The United States homeland missile defense network received a major boost recently as a radar system designed to detect missile threats completed its operational trial period.

The Long Range Discrimination Radar, or LRDR, located at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska , is tasked with searching, tracking and discriminating among multiple long-range threats simultaneously, increasing the probability of successful interceptions.

Why It Matters

The U.S. has built a comprehensive network , consisting of interceptors and radars on land and at sea, to defend against missile threats from the Pacific. A vital component is the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which is responsible for intercepting missiles with support from radar sensors such as the LRDR.

While the GMD is capab

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