Defensa aérea

Ground-based Midcourse Defense

Also known as
  • GMD
  • Ground-based Missile Defense
  • Ground-based Midcourse Defense system
  • GMD Weapon System

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) es el sistema estadounidense de defensa del territorio nacional contra misiles balísticos, construido alrededor de Ground-Based Interceptors lanzados desde silos, redes de mando de defensa antimisiles y datos de sensores de largo alcance. Boeing ha liderado la integración de GMD desde 1998, mientras que operadores del Army e informes de pruebas de la MDA muestran que el registro público actual del sistema es de pruebas de preparación y postura de alerta para defensa del territorio nacional, más que de empleo en combate documentado.

Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Sistema terrestre de defensa contra misiles balísticos, Defensa aérea
Image source: U.S. Army FTG-12 article
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Built by
Boeing
Type
Sistema terrestre de defensa contra misiles balísticos
Service note
1998-presente
Produced
1998-presente

Specifications

Misión
Defensa del territorio nacional contra amenazas de misiles balísticos de largo alcance
Integrador principal
Boeing
Sitios de interceptores
Fort Greely, Alaska, y Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Tipo de interceptor
Ground-Based Interceptor lanzado desde silo con vehículo de impacto exoatmosférico hit-to-kill
Mando y control
C2BMC proporciona apoyo de enfrentamiento de GMD y funciones compuestas de seguimiento de amenazas
Modernización de sensores
LRDR apoya la detección, el seguimiento y la discriminación de misiles balísticos de largo alcance para la defensa del territorio nacional
Ruta de modernización
Next Generation Interceptor está previsto como el futuro interceptor de GMD
Variants

GMD es un sistema integrado más que un único modelo de misil; las fuentes públicas distinguen con mayor claridad las configuraciones actuales del Ground-Based Interceptor y la ruta de modernización prevista Next Generation Interceptor.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Ground-Based Interceptor with CE-II Block 1 EKVConfiguración operativa mejorada del interceptor

La prueba FTG-12 usó un Ground-Based Interceptor mejorado con un Capability Enhanced-II Block 1 Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle y demostró hardware de tres etapas operando en modo de dos etapas.

Sources: U.S. Army FTG-12 article

Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor, Air DefenseNext Generation Interceptor (NGI)Modernización prevista del interceptor de GMD

Lockheed Martin describe NGI como un interceptor completo dentro del sistema GMD, y la GAO describe NGI como el esfuerzo del Department of Defense para mejorar la defensa del territorio nacional contra amenazas cada vez más capaces.

Sources: Lockheed Martin NGI product page, GAO NGI Program Report

Command-And-Control Link

GMD depends on battle-management support from the missile-defense command network.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
C2BMC, Ballistic missile defense command-and-control system, Support EquipmentC2BMCBattle-management system

Lockheed Martin says a C2BMC upgrade augments engagement support for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system and provides a single real-time composite picture of threat tracks.

Sources: C2BMC multi-domain upgrade

Interceptor Modernization

The current system uses Ground-Based Interceptors, while NGI is the planned next interceptor path for the same homeland-defense mission.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor, Air DefenseNext Generation Interceptor (NGI)Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor

Lockheed Martin describes NGI as a modern interceptor within GMD that is intended to protect against evolving long-range ballistic-missile threats.

Sources: Lockheed Martin NGI product page

Discrimination Sensor Link

Long-range sensor quality is central to the homeland-defense mission because the interceptor must discriminate a target during the midcourse phase.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
Long Range Discrimination Radar, Long-range ballistic-missile discrimination radar, Air DefenseLong Range Discrimination RadarLong-range ballistic-missile discrimination radar

Lockheed Martin describes LRDR as operational, ready to defend the U.S. homeland, and important to the effectiveness of ground-based interceptors.

Sources: Long Range Discrimination Radar product page

Architecture And Test Context

GMD se entiende mejor como una arquitectura defensiva: interceptores, software de gestión de batalla, operadores y sensores de discriminación deben alinearse antes de un enfrentamiento.

CapaContexto respaldado por fuentes
InterceptoresBoeing dice que los Ground-Based Interceptors son el único componente misilístico de GMD desplegado operacionalmente; la prueba FTG-12 usó un GBI mejorado con un vehículo de impacto CE-II Block 1.
OperadoresEl relato del U.S. Army sobre FTG-12 dice que soldados de la 100th Missile Defense Brigade realizaron el lanzamiento del interceptor y apoyan la misión de defensa del territorio nacional de U.S. Northern Command.
Control de tiroLa modernización de C2BMC se describe como una mejora del apoyo de enfrentamiento de GMD y de la presentación compartida de trazas de amenazas.
Discriminación por sensoresLRDR se describe como operativo y como una mejora de la eficacia de los interceptores terrestres mediante la detección y el seguimiento de amenazas de misiles balísticos.
Estado de uso públicoLas fuentes públicas respaldan pruebas con fuego real y postura de alerta, más que empleo en combate; el relato del Army sobre FTG-12 cita a un operador diciendo que GMD no había sido necesario operacionalmente.

Fuentes: Boeing GMD feature; U.S. Army FTG-12 article; C2BMC multi-domain upgrade; Long Range Discrimination Radar product page.

Timeline

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Key Events

  1. Boeing inicia su papel de integración de GMD

    Boeing dice que ha sido el integrador principal del sistema Ground-based Midcourse Defense desde 1998.

    Sources: Boeing GMD feature

  2. Interceptores adicionales entregados a Fort Greely

    Boeing informó la entrega de dos Ground-Based Interceptors adicionales a la Missile Defense Agency en Fort Greely, Alaska.

    Sources: Boeing GMD feature

  3. FTG-12 demuestra el modo GBI de dos etapas

    MDA y operadores del Army realizaron FTG-12 en Vandenberg Space Force Base, usando un GBI mejorado con un vehículo de impacto CE-II Block 1 para interceptar un blanco de misil balístico de alcance intermedio.

    Sources: U.S. Army FTG-12 article, DVIDS FTG-12 intercept image

  4. La GAO revisa el programa de modernización NGI

    La GAO informó sobre el programa Next Generation Interceptor como un esfuerzo importante del Department of Defense para mejorar el sistema GMD frente a amenazas de misiles cada vez más capaces.

    Sources: GAO NGI Program Report

  5. LRDR entra en función operativa de defensa del territorio nacional

    Lockheed Martin describe el Long Range Discrimination Radar como operativo y como un sensor que ayuda a asegurar la eficacia de los interceptores terrestres.

    Sources: Long Range Discrimination Radar product page

Media

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Videos

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Images

Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Sistema terrestre de defensa contra misiles balísticos, Defensa aérea - view 1
Source: U.S. Army FTG-12 article
Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Sistema terrestre de defensa contra misiles balísticos, Defensa aérea - view 2
Source: U.S. Army FTG-12 article
Related Weapon Systems
Next Generation Interceptor (NGI), Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseNext Generation Interceptor (NGI)Ground-launched ballistic missile interceptorNext Generation Interceptor (NGI) is Lockheed Martin's planned homeland ballistic missile interceptor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. The program moved from competing 2021 development awards to a 2024 Lockheed Martin downselect and a 2026 Courtland production facility, with public sources emphasizing multiple kill vehicles, solid-rocket propulsion, in-flight communications upgrades, and schedule risk around the original 2028 fielding target.
Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS), Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS)Mobile coastal anti-ship missile systemHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) is a land-based Harpoon launch-system package built around mobile launcher transporter units, radar trucks, command-and-launch equipment, and RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles. U.S. records identify Boeing as the principal contractor for Taiwan's HCDS sale, document follow-on launcher and missile-package contracts, and separately record two Harpoon coastal defense systems funded for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Sources

Boeing GMD featurePublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports Boeing's lead-integrator role, the Fort Greely delivery context, the system's all-50-states homeland-defense role, Ground-Based Interceptors as GMD's operational missile component, and prior Boeing image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29C2BMC multi-domain upgradePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the C2BMC engagement-support upgrade for Ground-based Midcourse Defense and the single real-time composite picture description. | Accessed: 2026-06-29U.S. Army FTG-12 articlePublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the FTG-12 test date and location, the 100th Missile Defense Brigade operator role, the CE-II Block 1 EKV and two-stage-mode details, the public statement that GMD had not been needed operationally, and official MDA image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29DVIDS FTG-12 intercept imagePublisher: DVIDS / Missile Defense Agency | Note: Public-domain DVIDS image page supporting the FTG-12 intercept imagery and the upgraded GBI intercepting an intermediate-range ballistic-missile target on December 11, 2023. | Accessed: 2026-06-29DVIDS FTG-12 target imagePublisher: DVIDS / Missile Defense Agency | Note: Public-domain DVIDS image page supporting the FTG-12 target-launch gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Lockheed Martin NGI product pagePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports NGI as a tip-to-tail interceptor within the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system and the planned integration of NGI into the GMD homeland-defense mission. | Accessed: 2026-06-29GAO NGI Program ReportPublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports NGI oversight context for improving GMD against increasingly capable ballistic-missile threats. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Long Range Discrimination Radar product pagePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports LRDR as an operational homeland-defense radar that detects and tracks ballistic-missile threats and helps ensure ground-based interceptor effectiveness. | Accessed: 2026-06-29