Ballistic missile defence

EADS expertise for enhancing security for armed forces personnel and citizens: Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD): the necessary response to a new threat

As recent conflicts and test firings in various countries have shown, ballistic missiles, with their long-range, almost instantaneous and powerful strike capability, are becoming a preferred strategic tool for many emerging powers. The proliferation of ballistic missiles, either conventional or equipped with nuclear, chemical or bacteriological warheads, in a context of increased regional tensions, represents an entirely new kind of threat to world peace and security which demands a coherent response at diplomatic, political and military levels.

BMD constitutes a crucial component of the military response framework. Several countries – the US, Russia, Israel, Japan and India – have already set up or are in the process of developing dedicated anti-ballistic defence systems. NATO member nations have also demonstrated their resolve to acquire an anti-missile system to help safeguard both troops in the field and home populations, with technology programmes and system architecture studies underway.

Astrium is a key player for a European BMD: Exo-atmospheric intercept systems

For a system to provide effective protection against ballistic missiles, it requires a combination of components, all at the cutting-edge of technology: a satellite early-warning capability, with detection and tracking sensors, a command and control system and finally interceptors to destroy the incoming offensive missile. The increasing range of potentially hostile missile requires that interception occurs during the ‘exo-atmospheric’ (outside the Earth’s atmosphere) flight stage before descent towards the target.

Astrium has skills and experience that are unique in Europe: Astrium is the only company in Europe with the full range of expertise to design, develop, construct and qualify an exo-atmospheric anti-missile defence system. Astrium's Space Transportation Business Unit has long-standing leadership in ballistic battlespace management, flight-testing and discrimination capabilities as well as the industrial resources to deliver essential elements (propulsion systems, interceptor ‘kill vehicles’) of the interception system. Astrium Space Transportation’s extensive domain experience stems in the main from numerous previous projects, including collaborative programmes with the United States. EADS Astrium is also recognised as having the crucial specialist capability for development of satellite-based early-warning systems to detect, localise and characterise ballistic activity in its initial stages, and is currently working on the first optical ballistic surveillance early-warning demonstrator in Europe.

This acknowledged expertise led to Astrium’s selection by NATO in 2004 as part of a transatlantic consortium to carry out definition studies for an anti-missile defence system; under this Missile Defence Feasibility Study Contract, Astrium Space Transportation has responsibility for identifying the precise technical nature of the threat, establishing the technical feasibility of the defence system architecture and its various components, sensor performance and detailed system specifications.

Astrium has the aspiration and the technical resources to help establish BMD: EXOGUARD Kill Vehicle

In anticipation of future operational requirements, Astrium is actively applying its research and technological competencies to define projects covering all aspects of interception systems, from threat analysis, engagement and intercept scenario models to design and development of the major system components.

Notably, Astrium is working on the design of an exo-atmospheric interceptor concept, EXOGUARD, a project to measure the technological challenges involved and to ensure that the necessary skills and resources are available to provide the appropriate response to the ballistic threat.

: Contributing to the greater protection of armed forces personnel on active duty and citizen populations at home is a central objective for Astrium, for which it is channelling its considerable experience, skills and ambition.

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Ballistic missile defence