U.S. Missile Defense Agency Archives

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron is undergoes pre-flight procedures at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 8, 2020. The aircraft conducted a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the Southern California coast. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

MDA director on hypersonics testing: ‘We need to get into a faster clip’

Lt. Gen. Heath Collins noted that with other missile programs “you may launch dozens of dozens of weapons. But on the hypersonic side, we just have not…

Jun 6, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Illustration of a hypersonic missile (Getty Images)

Report: Multi-orbit sensing architectures optimal for hypersonic missile defense

A new report from CSIS is intended to be a "cheat sheet" for policy makers weighing current and future sensor architecture designs.

Dec 18, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

A medium range ballistic missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, as part of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1a (FTM-31 E1a), held on March 30, 2023 in cooperation with the U.S. Navy. (MDA photo)

DOD plans to award Lockheed Martin $4.1B non-competitive contract to continue support of missile defense system

The Missile Defense Agency will award the contract to Lockheed on a sole-source basis because it is the only contractor with the technical knowledge of the system…

Apr 13, 2023 By Billy Mitchell

Vice Adm. Jon Hill testifies at a House Armed Services Committee hearing March 12, 2020.

MDA director considering new directed energy, electronic warfare capabilities for future missile defense

Vice Adm. Jon Hill mentioned directed energy technologies like high-power continuous wave lasers, a pulsed laser or high-powered microwaves as options the MDA could explore.

Mar 24, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Capt. Emily Neumann, assigned to 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, participates in a missile defense exercise aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh, Feb. 24, 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David Flewellyn/Released)

Navy looking to prototype ‘unique’ optical sensor designed to detect incoming hypersonic cruise missiles

The TORCH program aims to develop and demonstrate advanced optical system design for the detection, identification and tracking of hypersonic cruise missiles.

Feb 7, 2023 By Jon Harper

Missile Defense Agency taps AI and machine learning to prepare for next-gen threats

Artificial intelligence software company C3 AI on Tuesday revealed what the first three orders in its new five-year, $500 million production-Other Transaction agreement with the Missile Defense…

Dec 14, 2022 By Brandi Vincent

MDA’s role in upcoming homeland cruise missile defense demo now unclear

The Missile Defense Agency was recently passed over as the lead organization for developing new capabilities to defend the homeland against enemy cruise missiles.

Aug 12, 2022 By Jon Harper

GAO calls for independent reviews of hypersonic missile interceptor program

The Pentagon needs to take a closer at the glide-phase interceptor program, a government watchdog said in a new report.

Jun 21, 2022 By Jon Harper

MDA director unsure if new hypersonic missile interceptor can be fielded before 2030

The head of the Missile Defense Agency said he isn’t ready to commit to a timeline for delivering a new glide phase interceptor.

May 23, 2022 By Jon Harper

Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr. Kathleen Hicks, is welcomed to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by Gen. Glen VanHerck, Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and Col. Zachary Warakomsky, Commander, Peterson-Schriever Garrison, Dec. 13, 2021. (Department of Defense photo by Mr. Thomas Paul)

Pentagon’s Hicks wants more focus on cyber, EW capabilities for missile defense

The Pentagon needs to evolve in its approach to air and missile defense, according Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

May 6, 2022 By Jon Harper