The MDA is a United States government agency within the Department of Defense (DoD). It is made up of federal government civilians, military members from all services, and support contractor personnel. Our mission is to develop and field an integrated, layered, ballistic missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends against all ranges of enemy ballistic missiles in all phases of flight.

Since receiving presidential direction in December 2002, the Department of Defense and the Missile Defense Agency has delivered an initial defensive capability to the warfighter while continually developing a more technically sophisticated system to stay ahead of the evolving ballistic missile threat. In the next few years, the Agency intends to deliver significantly more integrated and robust missile defense technologies.

The Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) being developed and tested by the MDA consists primarily of hit-to-kill interceptors. These interceptors directly hit the incoming missile either inside the earth's atmosphere or while the hostile missile is in space. The interceptors ram the warhead at a very high closing speed, destroying the target using only kinetic energy. It has been described as hitting a bullet with a bullet — a capability that has been successfully demonstrated in test after test. Every element of the BMDS is tied into a network of radars and sensors to obtain information on missile launches and to track, discriminate, and target an incoming warhead.

All photos in the media library are in the public domain. Please credit the Missile Defense Agency, DoD, or U.S Government for the photo.

Only those with another government agency or under contract to the MDA are allowed to use the MDA seal. It cannot be used for advertising or other commercial purposes without MDA approval and consent. If you are under contract to the MDA and wish to obtain an electronic version of the MDA seal for official uses, please have an MDA government sponsor obtain the file for you from the MDA Public Affairs Office. If you are with a government agency, please contact the MDA Public Affairs Office for an electronic copy.