Command structure of the ballistic missile defense system

The United States is embarking on a course of designing and fielding a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to defend the nation and its allies against ballistic missile attacks. The BMDS will need a Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) system that can engage threat missiles in a timely manner. This paper covers how the Unified Command Plan affects missile defense efforts, the lessons learned from Desert Storm, and alternative chains of command for the BMDS to use to engage threat missiles in an expeditious manner. Preliminary findings indicate that a flattened chain of command for missile defense forces is a good starting point for the initial deployment of the BMDS.