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Missile Defense

MDA Tests New Three-Stage Booster For Missile Defense System

Monday, September 13th, 2021

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MDA Tests New Three-Stage Booster For Missile Defense System

A long-range Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. In a flight test of a three-stage booster rocket operating in a two-stage mode in 2021. (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on Sunday conducted the first flight test of a new three-stage booster for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System's Ground Based Interceptor (GBI), demonstrating variable stage usage. The GMD aims to defend against a small number of longer range ballistic missiles from an opponent like North Korea, using the GBIs based in Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. MDA said this test entailed a GBI launching with a mock-up of the Exoatmospheric…

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