Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors

The Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors program, managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), is a critical element of the Department of Defense's layered missile defense architecture. The program's overarching goal is to develop, deliver, and sustain a network of advanced ground-based and sea-based sensors that provide early warning, tracking, discrimination, and fire control data for U.S. and allied missile defense systems. These sensors support the command and control of key weapon systems such as Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). The FY 2026 budget request includes both discretionary and mandatory funding, with a significant portion allocated to new initiatives such as upgrades to the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS), enhanced electronic protection capabilities, and new sensor initiatives.

The largest line item within this program element focuses on the research, development, and testing of advanced radar systems including the Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control-2 (AN/TPY-2), Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX), COBRA DANE, and Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWR). The objectives include software and hardware upgrades, system engineering, and modeling and simulation to ensure these radars can detect, track, and discriminate between lethal and non-lethal objects in increasingly complex threat environments. The program also funds the development of advanced discrimination algorithms, electronic protection measures, and the integration of new signal processing capabilities, such as the CX 7.0 software baseline for AN/TPY-2. These efforts are designed to maintain and enhance the reliability, availability, and maintainability of the radar fleet. Support is also provided for warfighter exercises, ground and flight testing, and system-level verification and validation.

Cyber operations support the cybersecurity posture of the Ground Sensors mission and associated support systems. The primary objectives are to sustain compliance with the Department of Defense's Risk Management Framework (RMF), conduct security control assessments, and perform risk analysis and mitigation for all mission-critical software and hardware. The program funds annual cybersecurity reviews, penetration testing, and the development of a software bill of materials for all mission and support software, in accordance with federal cybersecurity mandates. In FY 2026, the program will expand its focus to include enhanced data aggregation and analysis capabilities at local control centers. It will also execute a series of developmental and operational cybersecurity test events for LRDR, AN/TPY-2, and SBX systems to ensure resilience against cyber threats.

Program-wide support provides essential management and operational support across the entire Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors program. This line item covers non-headquarters management costs, contract support services, deployment site preparation, facility operations, and a range of agency-wide functions such as physical and technical security, audit readiness, STEM initiatives, legal services, and environmental compliance. The support ensures the integrity and oversight of the Missile Defense System, enables the agency to respond to evolving threats, and maintains the operational readiness of facilities and personnel worldwide. The allocation for this support fluctuates annually based on the total agency budget and is distributed on a pro-rata basis across multiple program elements.

A key objective across all components of the Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors program is to provide persistent, overlapping sensor coverage to improve threat tracking accuracy, reduce the risk of single-point failures, and enable more efficient use of interceptor inventories. The networked sensor architecture allows the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system to pair the best available sensor data with the most effective weapon system for each threat scenario. This layered approach is intended to maximize the probability of successful engagement against a wide array of missile threats, including ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.

The program also emphasizes continuous improvement through modeling and simulation, digital and hardware-in-the-loop testing, and the integration of new technologies to address obsolescence and emerging threats. Collaboration with other Department of Defense agencies, the U.S. Space Force, and allied partners is integral to the program's success. This ensures that sensor capabilities remain interoperable and aligned with broader national defense objectives. The acquisition strategy leverages a mix of prime contracts, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and support from other government agencies to deliver these capabilities efficiently and effectively.