Aegis BMD

The AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), is a major line item (MD09) within the Department of Defense's procurement budget. The primary goal of the AEGIS BMD program is to provide an operationally effective and supportable ballistic missile defense capability to protect the United States, its deployed forces, and allies. The program leverages sea-based and Aegis Ashore platforms to deliver a forward-deployable, mobile capability for detecting, tracking, and intercepting ballistic missiles of various ranges during the midcourse phase of flight.

AEGIS BMD SM-3 Block IB is a significant component of this line item, focusing on the procurement and sustainment of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB interceptors. The Block IB variant enhances the battlespace for missile defense by engaging longer-range and more sophisticated ballistic missile threats, including those with countermeasures or launched in larger raid sizes. The Block IB's kinetic warhead features a two-color infrared seeker and advanced signal processor, enabling real-time discrimination and improved sensitivity for distant targets. The budget includes procurement of SM-3 Block IB missiles and investment spares to support repair and recertification of fielded missiles, anticipating supply chain attrition after the termination of new Block IB production.

The SM-3 Block IB procurement is winding down, with future years reflecting the final planned purchases due to a strategic shift in Department priorities toward the newer SM-3 Block IIA missile. The program's objectives for the remaining Block IB funding include not only missile procurement but also investment in canisters, production engineering, obsolescence management, and system engineering. Additional support costs address cybersecurity, diminishing manufacturing sources, and service life evaluation to ensure readiness and sustainability of the existing Block IB inventory throughout its operational life.

AEGIS BMD SM-3 Block IIA is another key element, representing the next-generation interceptor within the AEGIS BMD architecture. The Block IIA missile, developed in cooperation with Japan, provides an expanded engagement envelope and improved capability against more advanced and longer-range ballistic missile threats. While procurement of Block IIA missiles was transferred to a separate line after a certain fiscal year, the MD09 line item includes prior-year funding and procurement data for context. The Block IIA variant is expected to continue evolving within the AEGIS Weapons System, with future investments focused on production, canister procurement, and production engineering to support integration and deployment.

Supporting activities under the AEGIS BMD line item include production engineering, obsolescence management, and systems engineering and integration. These efforts are designed to address technical issues that arise during manufacturing, assembly, and testing, as well as to manage risks associated with diminishing manufacturing sources and component obsolescence. The program also funds cybersecurity initiatives to ensure the protection of classified and unclassified networks involved in missile production and sustainment, as well as service life evaluation programs to extend the operational lifespan of fielded interceptors.

The justification for continued investment in AEGIS BMD centers on the need to maintain and enhance the U.S. missile defense posture in the face of evolving threats. The transition from SM-3 Block IB to Block IIA reflects a focus on increasing capability and coverage against more sophisticated ballistic missile threats. The program's objectives are aligned with Department of Defense priorities to ensure an effective, supportable, and enduring missile defense capability for both sea-based and Aegis Ashore platforms.