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MDA

Organisation · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

American agency. Missile Defense Agency, USA.

Country
USA

Chronology

57 events

2002 November 14

19:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF7632. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud B.
  • GMDS - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 46 km (28 mi).

2002 November 25

18:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF7632. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud B.
  • GMDS test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 84 km (52 mi).

2003 Q1

Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Vehicle: Lance.
  • MLP Test (FY03) - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

2003 Q1

Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Vehicle: Lance.
  • MLP Test (FY03) - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

2003 February 7

Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

2004 July 22

Launch Site: Fort Greely. Launch Complex: Fort Greely. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • First GBI Deployment at Fort Greely - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The first Ground-Based Interceptor was lowered into a silo at Fort Greely, Alaska. Five additional interceptors were to be deployed in Alaska by the end of September..

2004 July 29

Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Platform: MLP. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • Arrow Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

2004 July 29

17:25 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Arrow. Launch Vehicle: Arrow 2.
  • USFT-1 ATBM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

2004 August 26

Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Arrow. Launch Vehicle: Arrow 2.
  • USFT-2 ATBM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

2004 September 29

Launch Site: Wake Island. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.
  • CMP-4A Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA, USA SMDC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2004 October 6

Launch Site: Wake Island. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.
  • CMP-4B Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA, USA SMDC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2004 November 11

Launch Site: Fort Greely. Launch Complex: Fort Greely. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • GBI Deployment at Fort Greely - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The sixth ballistic missile interceptor was installed in its silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, two months behind the mid-year schedule. An additional eight to ten were to be emplaced in 2005, for a total of 14-16..

2004 December 10

Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • GBI Deployment at Vandenberg - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. The first of two operational anti-ballistic missiles to be deployed during 2005 at Vandenberg AFB was lowered into its underground silo. This marked the first installation in the continental United States..

2004 December 15

06:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI. FAILURE: Launch abort; anti-ballistic missile never left silo..
  • IFT-13C Launch Abort - . Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC.

    Launch abort - booster shut down in silo. Missile target, launched from Alaska, impacted in Pacific Ocean. Delayed from January, August, November, December 9 and 12. The failed attempt was later said to be due to a very minor software glitch which created a gap in the flow of electronic messages between the flight computer and the interceptor's thrust vector controller. Five flight tests of the system were scheduled for 2005, including at least two attempted intercepts. The IFT-13c test was expected to be repeated as early as mid-February. IFT-14 was planned for March or April.

2005 February 17

Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI. FAILURE: Launch abort - booster shut down in silo..
  • IFT-14 launch attempt. - . Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC.

    Delayed from October 2004. Missile Defense Technology / EKV Prototype planned intercept attempt. The interceptor failed to leave the silo. As in IFT-13C, Orbital Sciences' booster, carrying Raytheon's production kill vehicle, was supposed to fly from Kwajalein and hit a target coming out of Kodiak, Alaska. The system shut itself down just a few seconds before launch. Arms that held the interceptor in the silo did not fully retract, and the launch software aborted the mission. MDA failure analysis resulted in a redesign of the launch mechanism and improved quality control.

2005 December 14

03:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FT-1 EKV Prototype ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Launch delayed from late 2004. Successful test of hit-to-kill anti-ballistic missile homer, although no target was intercepted..

2006 April 13

Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.
  • CMCM-1 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA, USA SMDC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

    A two-stage SR19 rocket was flown from the Kaui Test Facility in the Pacific Missile Range Facility. The payload included the deployment of complex countermeasures, a mock reentry vehicle, an onboard sensor package. This series of radar certification flight was initially part of the Block 2004 effort.

2006 April 28

Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.
  • CMCM-2 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA, USA SMDC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

    This countermeasures test was a repeat of the one held on April 13, 2006. MDA tested its radars in the Pacific Missile Test Facility in Hawaii against a target missile that carried countermeasures, a mock warhead, and an onboard sensor package. No interceptor missiles were used.

2006 September 1

17:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FT-2 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2007 September 28

20:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FTG-03a - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2007 December 3

16:07 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Orion sounding rocket.
  • NCADE Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

2008 June 26

02:16 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 22 N x 175 W. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Castor 4A. Launch Vehicle: MRT.
  • MRT-6 (Sep) - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

2008 December 5

20:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • MDA FTG-05 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Class: Military. Type: ABM.

2009 March 25

13:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Wingate. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Hera.
  • PAC-3 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target.

2009 June 6

Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Lynx. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Lynx.
  • ABL Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target.

2009 June 13

Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Lynx. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Lynx.
  • ABL Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target.

2009 July 22

19:45 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, Pacific Ocean off San Nicolas Islan. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: LRALT.
  • Arrow Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Target.

2009 August 11

04:50 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • NASA 36.229DR - . Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. ABM target.

2009 September 16

13:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Wingate. Launch Complex: Fort Wingate LC96. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Hera.
  • PAC-3 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2009 October 15

Launch Site: Fort Wingate. Launch Complex: Fort Wingate LC96. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Hera.
  • PAC-2 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2009 December 11

Launch Site: Midway. Launch Complex: Midway Island NDZ. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SRALT.
  • Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

2010 January 10

23:00 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • MARTI/36.247DR - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target.

2010 January 31

23:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: LV-2.
  • FTG-06 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Target.

2010 January 31

23:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FTG-06 EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Interceptor.

2010 February 3

04:30 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • ABL shoots down Black Brant target. - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

    First test of the Airborne Laser against a ballistic rocket in flight. The Terrier Black Brant unguided sounding rocket was destroyed in flight off California. This target was used as a low-cost vehicle representative of foreign solid-propellant short-range missiles.

2010 February 12

04:30 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, Pacific Ocean off San Nicolas Islan. Launch Platform: MLP. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • ABL shoots down Scud target. - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

    First test of the Airborne Laser against a foreign-technology missile target. The ABL destroyed the Scud liquid-fueled short-range ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform at sea. The entire engagement, including atmospheric compensation for the high-energy laser while the ballistic missile's rocket motor was still firing, occurred less than one minute from target launch.

2010 February 12

04:44 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • ABL fails to shoot down second target on same mission. - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). First attempt to engage a second missile in a single mission by the Airborne Laser. A beam misalignment prompted a safe shutdown of the laser system earlier than planned and the Terrier Black Brant unguided sounding rocket was not destroyed..

2010 February 17

Launch Site: Fort Wingate. Launch Complex: Fort Wingate LC96. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Juno test vehicle.
  • PAC-3 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2010 May 3

09:47 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • MARTI ABL Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2010 June 6

22:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • BVT-1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Test launch.

2010 June 29

07:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Complex: Barking Sands MLP. Launch Platform: MLP. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • FTT-14 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). ABM Target.

2010 September 1

Launch Site: Point Mugu. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • RV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). ABM target..

2010 October 21

17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • NASA 36.230DR - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). ABM target..

2010 December 15

20:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FTG-06A KV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM test..
  • GMD FTG-06a - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2011 March 9

Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Sergeant. Launch Vehicle: Talos Castor.
  • ARAV-C++ - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

2011 July 9

02:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SRALT.
  • FTX-17 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2011 October 5

05:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SRALT.
  • FTT-12 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target mission. Probably an SR-19 based Coleman Aerospace SRALT dropped out of a C-17 airplane..

2011 October 5

05:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Platform: MLP. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • FTT-12 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Target mission. Probably a Scud surrogate of some kind launched from the Mobile Launch Platform ship (former USS Tripoli) off Kauai..

2012 October 25

Launch Site: Wake Island. Launch Pad: Drop Zone POR25. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: E-LRALT.
  • FTI-01 THAAD Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

    Target mission, part of the FTI-01 missile defence experiment. Air dropped from a C-17 off Wake Island; ignited and headed towards the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein. The E-LRALT consisted of two SR-19 motors, an Orbus 1A motor and a reentry vehicle. Successfully intercepted by a THAAD interceptor launched from Meck Island at Kwajalein.

2012 October 25

Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Pad: BOA-NE. Launch Platform: MLP. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Scud.
  • FTI-01 PAC-3 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

    Target mission, part of the FTI-01 missile defence experiment. A short range target missile, possibly a Scud, was launched from the Mobile Launch Platform at northeast Kwajalein; it was intercepted by a Patriot PAC-3 missile launched from Omelek. The PAC-3 interception was at low altitude and not considered a space launch. The exercise also included some low altitude intercepts of cruise missiles by PAC-2 interceptors.

2013 January 26

22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • EKV CTV-01 - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM test of CE-II EKV kill vehicle..

2013 July 5

18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • FTG-07 CE-I EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Anti-ballistic missile. Failure; did not intercept target vehicle..

2013 August 15

Launch Site: Fort Wingate. Launch Complex: Fort Wingate LC96. Launch Vehicle: R-UNK.
  • PAC-3 Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 40 km (24 mi).

2013 September 10

Launch Site: Wake Island. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: eMRBM.
  • FTO-01 Aegis Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2013 September 10

Launch Site: Wake Island. Launch Pad: Drop Zone POR25. Launch Platform: C-17. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.
  • FTO-01 THAAD Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

2014 June 22

18:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: LV-2.
  • GMD FTG-06b Target - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2014 June 22

18:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF23. Launch Pad: LF23?. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.
  • GMD FTG-06b CE-II EKV - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Type: ABM. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).