Ground-based Midcourse Defense

Also known as

GMD
Ground-based Missile Defense

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) is the U.S. homeland ballistic missile defense system Boeing leads for the Missile Defense Agency. It uses silo-based ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely and Vandenberg, and Lockheed Martin describes C2BMC upgrades as improving GMD engagement support and threat-track integration.

Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Ground-based ballistic missile defense system, Air Defense

Image source: Boeing GMD feature

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Boeing
Type: Ground-based ballistic missile defense system
Service note: 1998-present
Produced: 1998-present

air defense ballistic missile defenseground-basedinterceptor missile defensenetworked

Specifications

Mission: Homeland defense against long-range ballistic threats
Lead integrator: Boeing
Interceptor sites: Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Coverage: Around-the-clock defense for all 50 states
Modernization link: C2BMC upgrades are described as augmenting engagement support and composite threat-track integration

Command-and-Control Link

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

Compatible item

Item type

Compatibility evidence

C2BMC, Ballistic missile defense command-and-control system, Support Equipment

Battle-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

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Operational homeland missile-defense system built around ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Boeing says it has led GMD integration since 1998 and that the system provides an around-the-clock capability to defend all 50 states.
Used by: United States Missile Defense Agency

Media

Ground-based Midcourse Defense Images

Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Ground-based ballistic missile defense system, Air Defense - view 1 — Source: Boeing GMD feature

Ground-based Midcourse Defense, Ground-based ballistic missile defense system, Air Defense - view 2 — Source: Boeing GMD feature

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Sources

Boeing GMD featurePublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports Boeing's lead-integrator role, the GMD system description, Fort Greely interceptor deliveries, the all-50-states homeland-defense claim, and image provenance for this page. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 C2BMC 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: 2026-06-27