Boeing expands missile defence capability with additional silos at Fort Greely

The GMD system is designed to defend against intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched from adversaries such as North Korea and Iran. However, experts widely believe that it is not intended to counter large-scale, complex missile attacks from nations like China or Russia.

The system relies on a network of advanced sensors, including powerful ground-based radar arrays such as the AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane in Alaska and the AN/FPS-126 Upgraded Early Warning Radar in the UK. These are supplemented by space-based infrared detection systems, which identify the heat signature of missile launches, and the Sea-Based X-Band Radar-1, a high-resolution tracking system mounted on a floating platform.

In addition to the Fort Greely upgrades, the GMD system integrates with other air defence networks, including the Aegis missile defence system on US Navy ships and the land-based Patriot and THAAD missile batteries. These interconnected systems work together to detect, track, and intercept threats during the midcourse phase of an ICBM’s flight, which is considered the optimal interception window.

Despite the expansion, the programme appears to be behind schedule, as Boeing had previously indicated plans to deploy 64 interceptors by 2023.