Missile defense

Missile defense

Measures designed to detect, identify, track, and defeat attacking (ballistic) missiles in both strategic and theater tactical roles, during any portion of their flight trajectory (boost, post-boost, midcourse, or terminal) or to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of such attack.

Industry: Military

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Missile defense

radioactivity

Military; Missile defense

The spontaneous emission of radiation, generally alpha or beta particles, often accompanied by gamma rays, from the nuclei or an unstable isotope.

active sensor

Military; Missile defense

One that illuminates a target, producing return secondary radiation, which is then detected to track and/or identify the target. An example is radar.

STINFO center

Military; Missile defense

Science and Technical Information data centers archiving and providing user access and support to a variety of missile defense test and evaluation data.

reentry phase

Military; Missile defense

That portion of the trajectory of a ballistic missile or space vehicle where there is a significant interaction of the vehicle and the earth's atmosphere.

force closure

Military; Missile defense

The point in time when a supported commander determines that sufficient personnel and equipment are in the assigned area of operations to carry out assigned tasks.

infrared (IR)

Military; Missile defense

Electromagnetic radiations of wavelength between the longest visible red (7,000 Angstroms or 7 x 10E4 millimeter) and about 1 millimeter. (See Electromagnetic Radiation.)

folded optics

Military; Missile defense

Any optical system containing reflecting components for the purpose of reducing the physical length of the system or for the purpose of changing the path of the optical axis.