This Microwaves&RF article is reprinted here with permission.
Protection against guided-missile warfare and the Next-Generation Interceptor (NGI) program has recently received significant funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Multiple contracts for technology development to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. from the DoD and MDA are meant to support two NGI designs as a way of protecting against system development risks and delays.
The NGI (see the figure) is intended as a ground-based, midcourse missile-defense system designed to protect the country against an attack by intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Of the awards, Stacy Cummings, performing the duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment for the Defense Department, said: “Today’s awards are an important step in modernizing our Missile Defense System. NGI plays an important role in our homeland defense, and our acquisition strategy is ensuring the department maximizes innovation to keep pace with rapidly advancing threats.”
Vice-Admiral Jon Hill, Director of MDA, added: “By planning to carry two vendors through technology development, MDA will maximize the benefits of competition to deliver the most effective and reliable homeland defense missile to the warfighter as soon as possible. Once fielded, this new homeland defense interceptor will be capable of defeating expected threat advances into the 2030s and beyond.” The NGI is meant to be the first layer of a multiple-layered defense strategy against rogue intercontinental threat missiles.