The Defenders
Terminal Missile Defense Battery (TMDB)
The TMDB is a multi-component system, comprised of a command/communications trailer, a missile transporter trailer, a missile launcher trailer, a radar, and a power unit. When moved to a location, the system is non-functional until ordered to orient the radar. This operation takes a few hours. After that time, the system remains non-functional, but may be activated by issuance of either a "survey horizon" or "confirm target" command. In the first of these instances, the radar may be said to have a relatively wide field-of-view, shallow depth acquisition region, while in the second instance the field-of-view is narrowed and the acquisition range is extended. The TMDB system can determine a firing solution against an enemy missile in either mode of operation; the time to do so is longer in the first mode than in the second. A radar stays in a specified mode until directed to change. 

The TMDB system will make a determination of engageability for each enemy missile which enters its acquisition range. A Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) salvo will be fired against each enemy missile so long as a salvo size is defined, a fire when ready command has been received, sufficient missiles are ready to meet salvo requirements, and the TMDB has determined an engagement is feasible. 

Airborne Command, Control, and Surveillance Platform (ACCSP)
The ACCSP is responsible for surveillance of enemy airspace, monitoring enemy ground activity, directing interceptor fighters against an enemy missile in boost, and directing strike fighters to engage an enemy TEL on the ground. 

The ACCSP loiter pattern is nominally a figure eight, 180 km in length, 30 km wide, with long axis parallel to the enemy border, point of nearest approach 90 km from the border. The plane loiters at 25,000 feet, flies at mach 0.7, and is continuously on station. Surveillance of both air and ground is continuous. A TEL can be unambiguously detected 20 minutes after it is moved from concealment, provided it is visible on a line-of-sight and within the sensor field of regard. A boosting missile can be detected within 10 seconds of launch, provided it is visible on a line- of-sight and within the sensor field of regard. 

The ACCSP commands Intercept Fighters (IFs) and Strike Fighters (SFs) to engage boosting missiles and TELs, respectively. An ACCSP would first detect a potential target, then command one or more appropriate fighters to engage that target. When a command to engage is issued by the ACCSP, a fighter will autonomously attempt an engagement and report its status to the ACCSP. The ACCSP will maintain a list of all target acquisitions, weapon-target assignments, and status of all enemy and friendly assets within its field of view. 

Intercept Fighter (IF)
An IF is a fighter aircraft which carries two advanced multi-stage air-to-air missiles (AAMs) capable of engaging theater ballistic missiles (SSMs) at long standoff distances ( 100 km or more) while the SSM is still in boost phase. The IF typically flies in friendly airspace, closer to the border than the ACCSP, and on a smaller, though similar, racetrack. When commanded to engage an SSM, the IF turns as fast as possible toward the threat (if necessary) until the target is within a 40 degree cone ( + 20!in azimuth) from the plane's axis, then launches one or more air- to-air missiles toward the target, according to existing doctrine (e.g., fire and forget, shoot-look- shoot, ...). The IF would return to its loiter pattern as soon as possible after launching an AAM. The IF may enter enemy airspace in its maneuver to turn to the target. 

Advanced Air-to-Air Missile (AAM)
An AAM is a fire-and-forget weapon. This particular incarnation is used solely to engage an enemy ballistic missile while in boost; it would not be appropriate for engagement of an enemy aircraft. While theoretically capable of arbitrarily high velocities, practical matters -- notably drag and sensor limitations -- will impose restrictions on the effective velocity and range of any AAM and operational constraints on the use of the AAM in general. Fired by an IF, the AAM initially climbs to get into a segment of the atmosphere where drag is minimal, then homes to the target. The practical consequence of this behavior is that targets too close to the IF (much less than 100 km) may require too radical a turn to allow homing, while targets too distant will eventually run away from the AAM as the AAM kill stage slows due to drag. 

Strike Fighter (SF)
A SF is a fighter aircraft which carries one guided bomb unit (GBU) to engage the theater ballistic missile's transporter erector launcher (TEL) from relatively close distances ( 10 km or less) when the TEL is not concealed. The SF loiters in friendly airspace, essentially at the border and on a racetrack similar to that of the IF. When commanded to engage a TEL, the SF turns as fast as possible toward the threat , and then flies toward the threat until the threat is within engagement range of the GBU. After releasing the GBU, the SF would either begin a return to its loiter pattern or begin another attack run, based upon the outcome of the engagement. A SF with all GBUs expended would automatically return to its loiter pattern. 

Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)
A GBU is a fire-and-track weapon. Effectiveness against a given target should be drawn from an appropriate distribution which considers engagement geometry. A GBU dies with probability = 1.0 upon impact. Time of impact may be specified as a function of engagement geometry. 

Airborne Laser (ABL)
The ABL will perform as the long-range component of an integrated theater missile defense (TMD) architecture, with interceptor missiles performing area defense (defended footprint on the order of 100 km) serving as an underlay. The ABL was among the first defensive assets introduced into the theater, and provided a significant level of defense while the rest of the architecture was being deployed. An ABL is assumed to have been flown to its loiter area and maintains on-station coverage in that area for the duration of the scenario. The location and extent of the loiter area for a given theater would vary and must balance where the perceived threat is coming from, the perceived threat to the ABL from enemy air power and surface to air missile threats, our air strength, and the ABL's self-defense capabilities. Nominally, the platform will be based over friendly territory at distances from the FEBA ranging from a few tens of km to 100 nautical miles, and loiter in a deconflicted "box" a few tens of kilometers wide and perhaps one hundred to a few hundred kilometers long. 

The ABL will scan enemy territory using its own on-board sensors; acquisition is probably unrestricted in azimuth, but its view up and down (elevation) will be restricted. The ABL can engage, however, only over a restricted range of azimuths, and will not be capable of engaging toward the rear of the aircraft without turning the aircraft. The ABL manages its battle space autonomously, and decides the order and timing of all shots, and whether or not it will turn to engage a target. 

The ABL is nominally a 400 km system; that is, it is lethal to ranges on the order of 400 km and beyond. The capabilities of a real ABL system are, of course, in the realm of speculation but a number of mission analyses have indicated that an ABL system with a 250 km lethal range would begin to offer mission utility in a few scenarios, while systems with lethal ranges approaching 400 km would offer very high defensive leverage in a number of worldwide scenarios of interest. The near term technology to provide that performance will probably require a 747-class aircraft, a multiple-megawatt-class laser, and an output beam director with an aperture of perhaps 1.5- 2 m. If atmospheric compensation and low total system jitters can be achieved, such a system could destroy boosting missiles at altitudes on the order of 25 km and above at ranges on the order of 400 km and beyond. 

A real ABL's laser fuel magazine would probably be sized to provide one hundred to a few hundreds of seconds of firing time with nominal engagement times of a few seconds per missile, dependent on range and missile type; the size and duration of the proposed TMD scenario suggests that for all practical purposes, the magazine may be considered infinite. 

Surveillance Satellite
A surveillance satellite that is capable of detecting SSM launches and missiles in flight is viewing the theater of operations. While not under command of the TMDB, it is nevertheless capable of notifying the TMDB of a launch, so that in the event the missile is undetected by the TMDB radar or ACCSP sensors, the TMDB can still be made aware of hostile activities. The SSA may be viewed as either a fixed, single asset (as in the case of a DSP satellite) or a constellation of satellites drifting into and out of the theater, much like proposed Brilliant Eyes concepts. 

The Threat
Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL)
The TEL is a heavy-duty, road-mobile transportation vehicle perhaps 15 meters in length, capable of moving at speeds on the order of 30-40 mph when loaded with a missile, and slightly faster when not loaded. It moves by road between points of concealment and pre-surveyed launch sites. Launch sites would typically be in enemy territory, perhaps 1/3 of the missile's maximum range behind the enemy border, though this may vary depending upon target location. Typical TBM maximum ranges might be anywhere from 300 to 1000 km. Upon arrival at a launch site, the TEL crew would erect and fuel a TBM, launch as quickly as possible, and then move the empty TEL to an area of concealment; arrival on site, launch, and departure would require about 30 minutes of time. 

In this scenario, a TEL may be engaged by a GBU; the TEL must provide a lethality assessment against such a threat . If engaged before a launch, the TEL must assess the lethality of the engagement for both the TEL and the SSM it holds. 

Surface to Surface Missile (SSM)
The SSM is a SCUD-like missile, although it may be multi-stage. It should be feasible to specify a point-to-point engagement (i.e., launch and impact points), and the missile will determine an appropriate flight program so long as the engagement is within its maximum range; the missile does not do any active homing to its target. The SSM is a fire and forget weapon; no commands are issued to or accepted by the missile subsequent to launch. Multiple stage missiles or single stage missiles which break up upon reentry or which dispense a separating warhead present multiple targets to systems which attack after boost phase is completed. 

In this scenario, a SSM may be engaged by either an AAM or a missile launched by the TMDB; the SSM must provide a lethality assessment against an engagement by these systems.