System Architecture for Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Defense (ASBMD)

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that China is developing a new class of ballistic missiles that can be used against moving targets, such as ships. One such technology is anticipated to cover a range of 2,000 kilometers and operate at a speed of Mach 10. The threat is also capable of maneuvering both during the midcourse and terminal flight phases for the purposes of guidance, target acquisition, and countermeasures. This threat could greatly impact the current concept of operations of U.S. Navy ships and alter national defense policies. While current ballistic missile defense solutions are capable of intercepting threats in midcourse and terminal flight phases, no comprehensive system has been developed to counter a ballistic missile threat that can (1) maneuver upon reentry in the endoatmosphere and (2) be used to attack a moving defended area, such as a U.S. Navy carrier strike group (CSG). To fulfill this need, the Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Defense (ASBMD) team conducted research and developed a notional architecture for a system of systems solution that could be integrated into the existing Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to effectively counter this threat. This thesis documents the process that was used to select and integrate the proposed ASBMD architecture.