Sea-Based X-Band Radar

About MDA

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is a research, development and acquisition agency within the Department of Defense. Its workforce includes civilians, military service members and contractor personnel in multiple locations across the United States.

The mission of MDA is to develop, test and field an integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). MDA works closely with U.S. military commands around the world, such as the Pacific Command and Northern Command.

The BMDS will protect the United States, deployed forces, allies and friends from ballistic missile attack. MDA works with military commanders to ensure the development of a robust BMDS technology and development program to address the challenges of an evolving threat.

About the Ballistic Missile Defense System

Missile defense technology under development by the United States is designed to counter ballistic missiles of all ranges – short, medium, intermediate and long.

The BMDS will include the following:

• Networked sensors and ground- and sea-based radars for target detection and tracking;
• Ground- and sea-based interceptor missiles for destroying a ballistic missile using the force of a direct collision; and
• A command and control, battle management and communications network providing the warfighter with the needed links among the sensors and interceptor missiles.

About the SBX

The Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) Radar tracks, discriminates and assesses the flight characteristics of ballistic missiles. The SBX Radar provides an advanced capability to the overall BMDS, greatly increasing MDA’s ability to conduct realistic development and operational testing of the BMDS, while providing an operational capability to U.S. military commanders.

• The SBX Radar Vessel is a unique combination of an advanced X-band radar mounted on a mobile, ocean-going, semi-submersible platform that provides the BMDS with an extremely powerful and capable radar that can be positioned to cover any region of the globe.
• The vessel is twin-hulled, self-propelled and stable in high winds and turbulent sea conditions.
• Its ocean-spanning mobility allows the radar to be repositioned as needed to support the various BMDS test scenarios.
• It provides an advanced radar capability to:
  • Obtain missile tracking information while an incoming threat missile is in flight,
  • Discriminate between the hostile missile warhead and decoys, and
  • Provide data to interceptor missiles so that they can successfully intercept and destroy the threat missile before it can reach its target.
• The SBX Radar Vessel is 240 feet wide, 390 feet long and 280 feet tall from its keel to the top of the radar dome.
• It houses living quarters, workspaces, storage, power generation, bridge and control rooms.

Boeing's Role

Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security business serves as prime contractor for the SBX Radar Vessel and the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, the primary BMDS system defending against intercontinental ballistic missile threats. Boeing supports MDA on all SBX development, test and integration activities, applying hardware and software solutions throughout the development process. Currently, Boeing oversees the operations, maintenance and continued development of the SBX Radar Vessel for MDA.