December 11, 2023, was a sentimental day for the team behind the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, America’s homeland defense shield designed to detect, intercept and destroy long-range missiles. That morning, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in support of US NORTHCOM, completed Flight Test GMD-12 (FTG-12), the program’s final slated flight test in which a Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) successfully intercepted an air-launched Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).

Around 6:30 a.m. on a quiet, clear morning, crowds of employees gathered with service members at the Ronald Reagan viewing site at Vandenberg Space Force Base to watch the GBI launch from its silo. Simultaneously, the launch team, located across the country, worked together to successfully execute the highly complex mission. The teams shared small celebrations as the target vehicle was successfully deployed and the interceptor launched, but the real triumph took place when the GBI successfully intercepted the IRBM. Teammates cheered, high-fived and even shed a few tears.

This year marks 20 years since President George W. Bush declared the GMD system operational. As part of a Boeing-led industry team, Northrop Grumman provides the interceptor boost vehicle, ground systems, fire control and engagement coordination for the GMD system.  Through the Development and Sustainment Contract, MDA recently completed the largest system upgrade in GMD history, significantly upgrading all Northrop Grumman-developed tactical Ground System products. FTG-12 verified the enhanced warfighter capability and reliability that the GMD Weapon System provides.
 
The flight test was the culmination of years of hard work by many different entities including MDA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and thousands of industry teammates across the nation. For some, the flight test was the first of many to come, while for others, FTG-12 marks the end of an era.

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Manager for GMD Flight Testing

Twenty years may seem like a long time to work on one program, but Bill considers his job “the best in the world.” Can launching rockets ever get old? After serving 17 years in the U.S. Air Force, Bill joined Orbital Sciences, a Northrop Grumman heritage company, in 2000.
  
Since then, Bill has overseen 17 GMD flight tests for Northrop Grumman, including the recent FTG-12 launch. Serving as the connector between the company, test range, industry partners and military customers, he’s helped the program thrive since its earliest days.
 
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to continue serving the nation following my career with the Air Force,” Bill said. “It takes an army of people to achieve mission success, and the complexity of each mission can be baffling. The level of professionalism and combined brain power from our employees, military and industry partners is incredible. No matter how daunting a task may be, if you have the right team in place, no object is unsurmountable.” 

As the GMD program expands and evolves, FTG-12 marks Bill’s last flight test, and he looks forward to retirement in the not-too-distant future. He says the successful flight test was the cherry on top of a stellar career, “It’s been a great ride.”

Northrop Grumman’s GMD Stage 1 Responsible Engineer and FTG-12 Thermal Console Backup

Tim Barron’s love for designing rockets began in the third grade when Orbital Sciences sponsored a “Space Explorers” STEM program at his elementary school where engineers would visit his class and help students design, build and launch their own rockets.

At his first flight test, FTG-12 was Tim’s full-circle moment being part of the team that launched the GBI to intercept the incoming IRBM. Tim joined Northrop Grumman as a new graduate from Arizona State University in 2018. After supporting various programs, he decided to plant his roots with the GMD program as the Stage 1 responsible engineer.

“The heritage and wealth of knowledge drew me to Northrop Grumman’s GMD program,” Tim said. “Many members of the GMD team have supported the program for several years; the lessons learned from the GMD program are notable across the sector.”

In 2022, a flight test failure from another program prompted a comprehensive safety assessment of all Launch Vehicles programs. The cause of the failure was suspected to be debris impacting the Lanyard Pull Initiator (LPI), a device used only during test flights. To mitigate the risk, Tim redesigned the LPI shield to absorb the impact of debris to the system and preserve the mission. GMD was the first program to create the solution, and the design can be applied to countless other programs to decrease risk of an inadvertent flight test failure.

“Thankfully we haven’t needed to use the GMD system in an operational capacity. Flight tests provide the most realistic opportunity to exercise the software and GBI against a real target. In these scenarios, we only get one shot to get it right – it’s our duty to be vigilant, search for errors, and course correct so the crew operators can successfully execute their mission.”