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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.

Contributors in Missile defense

Missile defense

system control

Military; Missile defense

Function or task of monitoring the maintenance status of assigned sensors and computer systems.

active search

Military; Missile defense

Illuminate an assigned volume of space with electromagnetic energy and collect reflected radiation.

hard kill (HK)

Military; Missile defense

Destruction of a target in such a way as to produce unambiguous visible evidence of its neutralization.

passive sensor

Military; Missile defense

A sensor that detects naturally occurring emissions from a target for tracking and/or identification purposes.

terminal phase

Military; Missile defense

That final portion of a ballistic missile's trajectory between the midcourse phase and trajectory termination.

battle manager

Military; Missile defense

The automated set of hardware and software equipment that performs the battle management functions at an element.

warhead mating

Military; Missile defense

The act of attaching a warhead section to a rocket or missile body, torpedo, airframe, motor, or guidance section.

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