How does missile defense work?

Layered systems detect launches with radar and satellites, then attempt to stop incoming missiles with interceptor rockets. No system is perfect, and newer…

Layered systems detect launches with radar and satellites, then attempt to stop incoming missiles with interceptor rockets. No system is perfect, and newer threats such as hypersonics are driving the next generation of defenses.

Why missile defense is built in layers

No single weapon can catch every missile, so defenses are layered instead. Sensors must first spot a launch, computers must work out where the missile is heading, and interceptors then get only minutes to respond. Layering gives defenders more than one chance to stop a threat, and it is worth remembering this page's warning: no system is perfect.

What to do, step by step

1. Detection comes first: satellites watch for the heat of a launch while radar tracks the missile's path.
2. Computers predict the trajectory and decide whether it threatens a protected place, filtering out harmless objects and debris.
3. Commanders choose an interception point and launch interceptor rockets designed to collide with or explode near the incoming missile.
4. If the first attempt misses, another layer may get a second chance closer in, which is the whole point of layering.
5. Afterwards, sensors assess whether the threat was destroyed, while newer threats such as hypersonics drive the next generation of defenses.