Extending the Horizon: Elevated Sensors for Targeting and Missile Defense
The Issue
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Developing advanced sensing capabilities is a priority for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to overcome the targeting challenge for both strike and air and missile defense.
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Terrestrial sensors are a critical backbone for air and missile defense architectures, but they have inherent limitations that present known vulnerabilities.
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Whether based on land, aerostats, aircraft, or in orbit, elevated sensors—each type of which has benefits and trade-offs—can supplement targeting capabilities.
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Wes Rumbaugh is an associate fellow with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.
Tom Karako is a senior fellow with the International Security Program and the director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS. This brief is made possible by support from General Atomics and general support to CSIS.
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