{{Infobox weapon | is_missile = yes | name = Ground-Based Interceptor | image = File:OBV GBI 1.jpg | caption = A Ground-Based Interceptor loaded into a silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, in July 2004 | origin = United States | type = Anti-ballistic missile | used_by = United States Army | manufacturer = {{Ubli | Orbital Sciences Corporation | Raytheon | Boeing Defense, Space & Security }} | unit_cost = | propellant = | production_date = | service = | engine = Solid-fuel booster, liquid-fuel vehicle<ref name=dacs_liquid>{{cite web |title=Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System |url=https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/ground-based-midcourse-defense-system |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219050259/https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/ground-based-midcourse-defense-system |archive-date=19 December 2023 |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=L3Harris |language=en |quote=Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company, supplies the liquid propellant Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) that maneuvers the Raytheon-built EKV …}}</ref> | weight = {{Convert|21,600|kg|lb}}<ref name="janes">{{cite book |author=Jim O'Halloran |url=http://cdn.ihs.com/Janes/Sample-content-IHS-Janes-Weapons-Strategic.pdf |title=Jane's Weapons 2014/2015: Strategic |date=15 January 2014 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0710631077 |page=243}}</ref> | length = {{cvt|16.61|m|ftin}}<ref name=janes/> | height = | diameter = {{cvt|1.28|m|ftin}}<ref name=janes/> | wingspan = | speed = Over {{cvt|27,500|km/h}};<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleason |first=Jacob |last2=Vermylen |first2=Mark |date=June 2017 |title=Evolution of GBI Boosters and Kill Vehicles |url=https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/gbi-booster-and-kill-vehicle-evolution/ |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance |language=en-US}}</ref> Mach{{nbsp}}33<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2016 |title=Groundbased Midcourse Defense -- The Ultimate Smart Weapon |url=https://www.army.mil/article/175024/groundbased_midcourse_defense_the_ultimate_smart_weapon |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=U.S. Army |language=en}}</ref> | vehicle_range = {{cvt|5,300|km}} (in testing only) | ceiling = | altitude = | filling = Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle | guidance = Inertial + imaging infrared | detonation = | launch_platform = Silo }}

The '''Ground-Based Interceptor''' ('''GBI''') is the anti-ballistic missile component of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. It is designed to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles.

== Description == thumb|A US Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle from a Ground-Based Interceptor missile destroys a high-altitude target, 2019 This interceptor is made up of a boost vehicle, constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV), built by Raytheon. Integration of these is performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.<ref name="osc">{{cite web |title=Fact sheet: GMD Boost Vehicle |url=http://www.orbital.com/launchsystems/publications/gmd_factsheet.pdf |publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation}}</ref>

The three-stage Orbital Boost Vehicle (OBV)<ref name="globalSecurity ">Orbital Sciences Ground-based interceptor (GBI) [https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/gbi.htm (2002) Orbital Boost Vehicle ](OBV)</ref> uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher.<ref>{{cite web |author=William Graham |date=27 June 2013 |title=Orbital's Pegasus XL successfully lofts IRIS spacecraft |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/orbital-pegasus-launch-iris-spacecraft/ |publisher=NASA |quote=The Orbital Boost Vehicle, developed for the US military’s Ground Based Interceptor program, uses the upper stages of the Taurus}}</ref> The interceptor version deployed in the U.S. has three stages. A two-stage version was successfully tested in 2010 for use in Europe's NATO missile defence as a backup option to the preferred Aegis System Standard Missile 3.<ref>{{cite news |author=Turner Brinton |date=June 7, 2010 |title=Two-Stage Interceptor Missile Succeeds in First Flight Test |url=http://spacenews.com/two-stage-interceptor-missile-succeeds-first-flight-test/ |access-date=February 8, 2015 |publisher=Space News}}</ref> In two tests in 2003, the interceptor reached ranges of 5,300 km and altitudes of 1,770 km.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boeing GBI |url=https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/gbi.html |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=www.designation-systems.net}}</ref>

A total of 64 interceptors are planned:<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2019 |title=DOD official describes missile defense strategy |url=https://www.army.mil/article/217689/dod_official_describes_missile_defense_strategy |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=U.S. Army |language=en}}</ref> 30 interceptors were deployed at the end of 2010 at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California,<ref>{{cite web |title=MDA - Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) |url=https://mda.mil/system/gmd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806115905/https://www.mda.mil/system/gmd.html |archive-date=2022-08-06 |accessdate=2022-08-28 |publisher=Mda.mil}}</ref> with 14 additional missiles deployed by 2017, and 20 more GBIs planned.

Since 2006, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted seven intercept tests with the operationally configured missile, the most recent four of which were successful.<ref name="mdaTesting ">MDA [https://mda.mil/system/testing.html Testing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209183336/https://mda.mil/system/testing.html |date=2022-12-09 }}: [https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testprogram.pdf Test Program pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608050201/https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testprogram.pdf |date=2023-06-08 }} note URL–https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208103424/https://mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/testrecord.pdf |date=2021-12-08 }} is a 404. [https://mda.mil/news/public_statements_archive.html Archive of public statements by year: read from pull-down menu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209183342/https://mda.mil/news/public_statements_archive.html |date=2022-12-09 }}</ref><ref name="FTG-11,salvoTest ">[https://www.army.mil/article/219788/national_guard_soldiers_at_forefront_of_most_significant_test_in_missile_defense_history Staff Sgt. Zachary Sheely (April 5, 2019) National Guard Soldiers at forefront of most significant test in missile defense history]</ref><ref name= tripled/> The FY2021 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which was released 3 December 2020) has mandated that the Missile Defense Agency commence development of 20 interim GBIs.<ref name="interimGbi ">Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/12/03/congress-directs-dod-to-build-interim-homeland-missile-defense-interceptor/ (3 December 2020) Congress directs DoD to build interim homeland missile defense interceptor]</ref> {{anchor|rkvRequirements}}The interim GBIs are to meet the requirements for the Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV —canceled 21 August 2019),{{efn|name= rkvCancelled|1= The Missile Defense Agency cancelled the $5.8 billion contract for the Redesigned kill vehicle (RKV) on 21 Aug 2019.<ref name="cancellationOfRKV">Paul McCleary {{citation |title=Pentagon Cancels Multi-Billion $ Boeing Missile Defense Program |date=21 August 2019 |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2019/08/pentagon-cancels-multi-billion-boeing-missile-defense-program/ |publisher=breakingdefense.com}}</ref><ref name="ndaaMandatesStudy">Theresa Hitchens [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/lawmakers-question-r-pump-mda-funding/ (17 December 2019) Lawmakers Question R&E Oversight; Pump MDA Funding] RKV cancellation is prompting a National Defense Authorization Act mandate for a federally funded R&D center (Federally funded research and development centers - FFRDC) study, whether to move the oversight of MDA *Theresa Hitchens [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/hill-to-griffin-no-moving-the-sco-shifts-it-to-depsecdef-norquist/ (17 December 2019) Hill To Griffin: No Moving The SCO; Shifts It to DepSecDef Norquist] Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO)</ref><ref name="noRefundExpected">Paul McCleary [https://breakingdefense.com/2019/09/pentagon-issues-classified-rfp-for-new-missile-interceptor/ (6 September 2019) Pentagon Issues Classified RFP For New Missile Interceptor] No Refund of Monies expected. Rework is To Be Determined</ref> ''These citations stem from the US Army Futures Command article.''}} at minimum:<ref name= interimGbi />{{rp|see attached video}} *Vehicle-to-vehicle communications *Ability to assess kills, and counter counter-measures *Producible *Use mature technology, with the ability to integrate with non-GBIs (see below) The interim GBIs are to be completely fielded by 2026, according to the FY2021 NDAA.<ref name= interimGbi />

On 1 August 2022, the Missile Defense Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to upgrade the GMD Weapon System (GWS) to modernize code for the Ground-based interceptors (GBIs) hardware (by 2026),<ref name="by2026 ">Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/23/canceled-missile-defense-warheads-cost-tripled-schedule-slipped-despite-numerous-warnings-gao-finds/ (23 Jul 2022) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds] "The Senate Armed Services Committee, in its version [of] the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, wants 20 interim interceptors fielded by 2026".</ref><ref name="ng2022 ">Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/08/01/northrop-wins-3-billion-contract-to-manage-us-homeland-missile-defense-systems/ (1 Aug 2022) Northrop wins $3 billion contract to manage US homeland missile defense systems]</ref> as their successor Next generation interceptors (NGIs) are made available (on or before 2026). The software upgrades allow the GBIs new capabilities to complement the NGIs.<ref name= interimGbi /><ref name="usniNews ">Naval News Staff [https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/11/hypersonic-missiles-evolution-or-revolution/ (1 Nov 2022) Hypersonic Missiles: Evolution Or Revolution? ] summary overview</ref><ref name="gmd2022 ">Andrew Eversden [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/northrop-grumman-wins-3-3-billion-homeland-ballistic-missile-defense-contract/ (1 Aug 2022) Northrop Grumman wins $3.3 billion homeland ballistic missile defense contract]</ref> On 31 August 2022, the MDA awarded Boeing a GMD contract for attendant system integration, test and readiness (SITR) work.<ref name= 31AugAward >ANDREW EVERSDEN [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/boeing-wins-5-billion-contract-for-ballistic-missile-defense-integration/ (31 Aug 2022) Boeing wins $5 billion contract for ballistic missile defense integration] Award is for $506.7 million up to 2027</ref>

==Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program== The Missile Defense Agency leads the development of anti-ballistic missiles for North America. The Next Generation Interceptor (NGI)<ref name="mdiNgi">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgjMka8FMA Association of the United States Army (AUSA) (12 Mar 2020) Army SMD Hot Topic 2020 - VADM Jon Hill - Dir, Missile Defense Agency]</ref>{{rp|4:13}} is a MDA program to upgrade the kill vehicles for the ground-based interceptors, with different vendors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman competing.<ref name="ngiIntegrator ">[https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2021/03/23/heres-who-will-compete-head-to-head-to-build-the-next-homeland-missile-defense-interceptor/ Jen Judson (23 Mar 2021) Here’s who will compete head-to-head to build the next homeland missile defense interceptor]</ref> They are tasked with meeting more complex threats than those met by the EKV.<ref name= ngiIntegrator /> There will be more near-term technology improvement to the GBI during a longer-term process for NGI to meet more complex threats.<ref name="ngiNearTermImproveLongerDev ">[https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/big-new-missile-defense-contract-comes-as-part-of-larger-defensive-push/ Paul McCleary (24 Mar 2021) Big New Interceptor Deal Part Of Biden Missile Defense Push]</ref> The NGIs are to be fielded by 2027 or 2028.<ref name= ngiIntegrator />

The Pentagon's Office of Cost and Program Evaluation (CAPE) estimated on April 29, 2021, that it would cost $17.7 billion to develop, deploy, and maintain the next-generation interceptor (NGI). This includes billions to build a total of 21 NGIs, each costing at least $74 million, and maybe more depending on the exact allocation of funding for the program<ref>[https://www.twz.com/40381/does-spending-nearly-18b-on-a-few-dozen-new-icbm-interceptors-even-make-sense-strategically Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick (29 April 2021) Does Spending Nearly $18B On A Few Dozen New ICBM Interceptors Even Make Sense Strategically?]</ref><ref>[https://norskluftvern.com/2025/07/28/american-vs-european-missile-defense-critical-cost-analysis-of-gbi-sm-3-sm-6-thaad-pac-3-amraam-aster-30-and-iris-t/ Norsk Luftvern (28 July 2025) American vs European Missile Defense: Critical Cost Analysis of GBI, SM-3, SM-6, THAAD, PAC-3, AMRAAM, Aster-30 and IRIS-T]</ref>. As part of the first phase, the Missile Defense Agency allocated $7.6 billion in contract money to Northrop Grumman (in partnership with Raytheon) and Lockheed Martin to upgrade aging ground-based interceptors (GBIs).<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2021/04/29/pentagon-may-spend-177-billion-to-deploy-just-21--nuke-killing-missiles/?sh=4a577a8b3cba Sebastien Roblin (29 April 2021) Pentagon May Spend $17.7 Billion To Deploy Just 21 Nuke-Killing Missiles]</ref>

On 12 September 2021 a test of the GBI, which is designed to use a three-stage booster, successfully met its goal of operating as a two-stage booster for an EKV.<ref name="mehta">[https://breakingdefense.com/2021/09/us-successfully-tests-new-homeland-missile-defense-capability/ Aaron Mehta (12 Sep 2021) US Successfully Tests New Homeland Missile Defense Capability] MDA's "2-/3-Stage selectable GBI"</ref><ref name="tripled">[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/23/canceled-missile-defense-warheads-cost-tripled-schedule-slipped-despite-numerous-warnings-gao-finds/ Jen Judson (23 Jul 2020) Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds]</ref>

{{blockquote|Think of it as just telling the third stage not to fire, which allows the kill vehicle to open its eyes, unbuckle its seatbelt, and get to work that much sooner. It trades the speed that the third stage would add for time. And that translates to flexibility.—Tom Karako<ref name= mehta />}} {{anchor|intercept}}The tracking sensors and computers (whether they be C2BMC, or IBCS, etc.), which follow the parabolic trajectories of the ballistic missile, count down the ''time to go'' needed before impact of the interceptor's kill vehicle with the targeted ballistic missile. When the tracking sensors and computers determine there is enough time to kill the ballistic missile without using the third booster stage, the kill vehicle can maneuver using its thrusters to hit the targeted ballistic missile without the third stage.<ref name= mehta /> This increases the probability of kill, for the kill vehicle, which can instead more closely follow the targeted missile, rather than its projected parabolic trajectory.

As described, the NGI is being engineered to handle more complex situations to be able to hit maneuverable targets.<ref name= usniNews />

On 11 December 2023 a two-stage GBI intercepted an IRBM for the first time, using integrated sensor data from the RTX AN/TPY-2 in forward-based mode, and from the Sea-based X-band radar.<ref name="2023-12-12_DN">[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/12/11/homeland-defense-interceptor-defeats-ballistic-missile-in-test/ Homeland defense interceptor defeats ballistic missile in test], Jen Judson, Defense News, 2023-12-12</ref>

On 15 April 2024, Lockheed Martin was selected over Northrop Grumman and awarded a $17 billion contract to develop the Next Generation Interceptor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Mike |date=15 April 2024 |title=Lockheed wins US missile defense contract worth $17 bln |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheed-wins-us-missile-defense-contract-worth-17-bln-sources-say-2024-04-15/ |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Marrow |first=Michael |date=15 April 2024 |title=Lockheed wins competition to build next-gen interceptor |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/lockheed-wins-competition-to-build-next-gen-interceptor/ |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Breaking Defense}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=15 April 2024 |title=U.S. Missile Defense Agency selects Lockheed Martin to provide its Next Generation Interceptor |url=https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-04-15-U-S-Missile-Defense-Agency-selects-Lockheed-Martin-to-provide-its-Next-Generation-Interceptor |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=Lockheed Martin}}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==See also== * Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100302011715/http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=5769 Missile Defense Agency Booster Rocket Program] *[https://missilethreat.csis.org/defsys/gbi/ Ground-based Interceptor | Missilethreat.csis.org]

{{US missiles|state=collapsed}}

Category:Anti-ballistic missiles of the United States Category:Military in Alaska Category:Solid-fuel rockets Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2000s