The Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) mission is to develop and deploy a layered Missile Defense System to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight.

Since ballistic missiles have different ranges, speeds, size and performance characteristics, the Ballistic Missile Defense System is an integrated, "layered" architecture that provides multiple opportunities to destroy missiles and their warheads before they can reach their targets.

The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted a live intercept of a ballistic missile target, marking the first Ballistic Missile Defense event executed from Guam.

The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Defense partners, successfully conducted a live intercept of a ballistic missile target, marking the first Ballistic Missile Defense event executed from Guam.

Within the Department of Defense, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is responsible for managing, directing, and executing the Missile Defense Program. The president and Congress rely on the MDA leadership to provide guidance to carry out the mission entrusted to them.

In 2002, the BMDO was renamed the Missile Defense Agency. We continued to research and develop hit-to-kill technologies, and, in time, began to test and field elements of the Missile Defense System. To learn more about U.S. missile defense efforts from 1945-present, check out the history resources.

WALLOPS ISLAND, Virginia – Yesterday the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted a flight test of the Hypersonic Test Bed (HTB), a glide vehicle designed to provide a common platform for hypersonic experiments. During the test, designated HTB-2, a sounding rocket propelled the glide vehicle into hypersonic flight prior to separation.

The Missile Defense System is a complex system of elements and supporting efforts. The integration of these many elements will enable a robust, layered defense to defend against a hostile missile in all phases of flight.

Homeland Defense – Aegis BMD Long Range Surveillance and Track. Aegis BMD ships on Ballistic Missile Defense patrol, detect and track ballistic missiles of all ranges — including ICMBs and report track data to the MDS.

The Missile Defense Agency has fielded an initial capability to protect the U.S and our allies against limited ballistic missile attack.