Ground-Based Interceptor

The Ground-Based Interceptor is the anti-ballistic missile component of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. This interceptor is made up of a boost vehicle, constructed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and an Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, built by Raytheon. Integration of these is performed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

The boost vehicle uses the solid-fuel rocket upper stages of the Taurus launcher. The interceptor version deployed in the U.S. has three stages. A two-stage version was successfully tested in 2010 for use in Europe's NATO missile defence as a backup option to the preferred Aegis System Standard Missile 3.

As of 2013, 26 interceptors were deployed at Fort Greely, Alaska, with an increase to 40 planned by 2017.