$80M to Boeing for GMD Missile Defense Complex in Europe
Boeing in Huntsville, AL received a sole-source maximum $80 million cost-plus-incentive-fee, indefinite-delivery letter contract to conduct activation planning of a European-based Missile Defense Complex, as part of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) component of the USA’s anti ballistic missile program. Work will be performed at Huntsville, Alabama and the European site, and is expected to be complete by September 2013. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Missile Defense Agency, Huntsville, AL is the contracting activity (HQ0147-07-D-0001).
Upon completion, GMD will consist of an complex array of components: Air Force Defense Support Program satellites (DSP – in service); Space Based Infrared System-High satellites (SBIRS-High, encountered problems and may be supplanted or supplemented by AIRSS); the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS); Upgraded Early Warning Radars (UEWRs – in progress around the world); a Battle Management, Command, Control and Communications system (BMC3 – in Colorado and Alaska); the SBX Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX); and Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) missiles at Ft Greely, AK and Vandenberg, CA.
Missile defense efforts in Europe remain a source of controversy. Russia, which is helping Iran with its nuclear program, has objected strongly to such efforts. The nature and location of this complex are not discussed in the DefenseLINK release, however. Some additional readings related to this subject include…
Additional Readings
- US Missile Defense Agency – Midcourse Phase Defense. See also Ground-based Midcourse Phase fact sheet [PDF format]
- MissileThreat.com – Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
- US Armed Forces Journal (January 2006) – Off the radar: Missile defense was the administration’s highest priority.’ What happened?. Offers a history stretching back to the Clinton years, and ennumerates challenges going forward.
- UPI via SpaceWar (Oct 27/05) – BMD Focus: Doubts About Interceptors. Is the MDA quietly downgrading the GMD/GMI system, in favor of options like AEGIS naval defense which it considers more promising?
