The Early Launch Detection and Tracking (ELDT) technology detects threat missiles quickly after launch to track missiles during the boost and ascent phases, and to determine the missile type. All-weather surveillance and tracking sensors are used to improve the timeliness and reliability of cues provided to other sensors and engagement systems within the BMD system. Radio frequency concepts may use over-the-horizon- radar techniques or the scattered signals from indigenous transmitters. Electro-optical concepts exploit inherent signal characteristics that separate the signature of the boosting missile from background clutter.

Through the High-Altitude Airship (HAA) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD), the MDA will design and produce a lighter-than-air, high-altitude airship prototype. The HAA ACTD will demonstrate the feasibility and potential military utility of an unmanned, untethered, gas-filled, solar-powered airship. The current HAA design is a non-rigid, super-pressure airship. It is expected to be 150' in diameter by 500' long. Its total volume will be 5.6 × 106 cubic feet. The airship will be controlled by four electrically powered, vectored propulsion pods. A solar-powered regenerative batterybased power system with thin-film photovoltaics on the hull surface will provide power generation. The payload bay will be externally mounted and provide for multiple payloads with a weight of up to 4,000 pounds.

It has potential use as a sensor, communications, and/or weapons platform, and acts as a demonstrator for future high-altitude airships. Its utility as a mobile, retaskable, high-altitude, geostationary, long-endurance platform will span from communications and weather/ environmental monitoring to shortand long-range missile warning, surveillance, and target acquisition.

Multiple Kill Vehicle

The Multiple Kill Vehicle (MKV) system allows more than one kill vehicle to be launched from a single booster. The system consists of a carrier vehicle with onboard sensors and a number of small, simple kill vehicles that can be independently targeted against objects in a threat cluster. The integrated payload is designed to fit on existing and planned interceptor boosters.