Theater Missile Defense: A Primer for the Uninitiated

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Theater Missile Defense: A Primer for the Uninitiated

D. A. Augustine

Theater Missile Defense (TMD) is a much discussed topic among operation and strategic planners. Some believe that TMD is an urgent and present necessity. Others believe that the threat has not fully developed and that time remains to develop weapon systems that can better counter the threat. The purpose of this paper is to provide a TMD primer to explain the fundamentals of TMD, the various Service approaches, and to provide operational and strategic thinkers and planners a clear view of TMD, its inherent problems and solutions. Broad areas of TMD are currently under addressed. Although a great deal of discussion, development, and funding has gone into TMD, there is no concise Joint approach. Active defense remains a controversial issue sought after by Service headquarters and contractors. Attack operations is considered a collateral mission. Passive defense is severely under addressed. C4I is proceeding for early warning to TMD weapon systems, but fire control and distribution systems remain in the early stages of development.