
Mission Area
Air and Missile Defense
Revolutionizing the Art of Defense
Johns Hopkins APL’s Air and Missile Defense Mission Area creates advanced technologies and capabilities to protect U.S. and allied fleets and deployed forces from air and missile attack.
Performing this vital mission in an increasingly complex environment, we address new and emerging threats posed by advanced long-range ballistic and cruise missiles. We devise, develop, engineer, test, and evaluate solutions that address today’s—and tomorrow’s—air and missile defense needs, and we apply our expertise to make current systems more effective, adapt technologies for new missions, and develop novel technologies for future use.
Highlights
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Testing Air and Missile Defense Radar
APL teamed with industry and the Above Water Sensors Directorate of Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems on two successful tests of the AN/SPY-6(V), a wideband digital beam-forming sensor known as the Air and Missile Defense Radar. -
Test Target Prototyping
A cross-APL team of engineers, working with the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Target and Countermeasures Directorate and other government and industry partners, develops cost-effective solutions for MDA to support live-fire testing of interceptors, sensors, and fire control systems. -
Optical Communications at Sea
We successfully demonstrated a high-bandwidth free-space optical (FSO) communications system between two moving ships, proving operational utility of FSO technology in the maritime environment.
Recent News
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Press Release
May 9, 2023Johns Hopkins APL Team Makes Powerful Advances on a Better Thermal Battery
APL researchers are reenergizing the thermal battery market with technology that enables smaller, yet more powerful batteries to power missile systems. -
Press Release
Apr 27, 2023First SURPASS Teams Set to Tackle Tough Societal Challenges
The SURPASS program forged between Johns Hopkins APL and the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering seeks cutting-edge ideas that “go beyond the possible” — and the problem-solving proposals funded in the initiative’s first year indicate that researchers are up to the challenge. -
Press Release
Apr 24, 2023Johns Hopkins APL Plays Key Role in Japan Missile Defense Flight Test Success
APL — in cooperation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the United States Missile Defense Agency — played a key role in live-fire intercept demonstrations of the Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) and SM-3 guided missiles.