Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) is a missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles during their midcourse phase, which is the part of the flight outside the Earth's atmosphere. It uses ground-based interceptors, located primarily in the United States, that are launched to collide with and neutralize enemy missiles. GMD aims to protect the U.S. and its allies from military threats by detecting, tracking, and engaging missiles as they travel through space before re-entering the atmosphere, thus helping ensure national security against long-range missile attacks.