Posted by John McHale

 

FORT GREELY, Alaska, 8 May 2010. Boeing [NYSE: BA], working with industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, delivered a second GMD System Trainer (GST) for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system at Fort Greely. GMD is the nation's only defense against long-range ballistic missile threats.

 

An additional GST allows Alaska's National Guard operators to train independently or in conjunction with the existing training operations at the Missile Defense Element in Colorado Springs, Colo. Exercising their standard tactics, techniques and procedures, operators conduct simulated ballistic missile threat scenarios using the same consoles, computer hardware and software used in operational battle management.

 

"Having two GMD system trainers at Fort Greely opens up new avenues for the warfighter," says Paul Smith, Boeing director of GMD Ground Systems. "As we continually upgrade the GMD system, they now can train with either the current or upgraded software versions, use single or dual fire-control nodes, and engage in more realistic training conditions, all of which provides them with an unmatched level of support and readiness."

 

Boeing has been the prime contractor for the GMD program since its inception, delivering more than 20 operational interceptors at Fort Greely and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to defend the U.S. against long-range ballistic missile threats. An integral element of the Global Ballistic Missile Defense System, GMD also consists of radars, other sensors, command-and-control facilities, communications terminals, and a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network.

 

"The GST offers warfighters at Fort Greely the flexibility to train in a multitude of conditions and operating environments, improving the Missile Defense Agency's ability to stay ahead of evolving threats," said Norm Tew, Boeing vice president and GMD program director.