What is being proposed?
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) needs to perform maintenance and repair work on its Sea-Based X-Band (SBX) Radar Vessel, an integral part of our nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System. The SBX Radar Vessel’s thrusters, which help move it through the water, require periodic maintenance to retain American Bureau of Shipping/U.S. Coast Guard certification, which is required for the vessel to operate. Thruster maintenance is needed to maintain a full suite of radars for anti-ballistic missile testing and defense.
MDA also needs to perform additional maintenance and repair on the vessel. Work includes repainting needed areas, inspecting and repairing other vessel components, and upgrading some internal systems. The type of maintenance under consideration is similar to the type of maintenance the U.S. Navy continues to perform responsibly on homeported Navy vessels at Navy shipyards. MDA will not operate the X-Band Radar while in port for the required maintenance.
The required maintenance will be accomplished at the deepwater shipyard facility at
Vigor Shipyards, in Seattle Washington (Formerly Todd Pacific Shipyard) . The Proposed Action is needed as a contingency in the event that
Vigor Shipyards is not available to perform required maintenance and repair activities.
What contingency maintenance locations are available?
To conduct thruster maintenance and seal replacement, a pier side water depth of 50 feet or more is required. There are two contingency locations on the West Coast that could be available to facilitate the specific deep-water maintenance requirements. The locations under consideration are:
- Naval Station Everett – Everett, Washington
- Naval Air Station North Island – San Diego, California
The proposed maintenance would be short term.
What is the Sea-Based X-Band Radar?
An integral part of our nation’s missile defense program, the SBX Radar is a radar sensor that tracks, discriminates and assesses the characteristics of ballistic missiles in flight so they can be targeted with interceptor missiles. It supports testing and provides an advanced capability to the overall Ballistic Missile Defense System.
The SBX Radar sits on a twin-hulled platform that is 240 feet wide, 390 feet long and 280 feet tall from its keel to the top of the radar dome. The vessel displaces about 50,000 tons of water. The SBX is similar in height and about one-third the length of an aircraft carrier.
What are the next steps?
MDA considered comments received from agencies and the public during the 30-day
review period. The environmental analysis documented in the Final EA shows that
no significant impacts would occur from maintenance activities associated with
the proposed maintenance and upgrade activities. MDA prepared and finalized a
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Preparation of and Environmental
Impact Statement, therefore, is not required.
