JP 3-01 Countering Air and Missile Threats - Defense Innovation ...

Appendix E
under attack, and the time of the event. The two missile warning missions are strategic and
theater; both use a mix of space-based and terrestrial sensors. Strategic missile warning is
the notification to national leaders of a missile attack against North America or allied and
partner nations. Theater missile warning is the NRT notification to operational command
centers and the warfighter of a potential threat of a missile event-any event launched from,
overflying, or projected to impact a designated AOR, JOA, and/or area of interest.
(a) Strategic Missile Warning. Space-based sensors, such as Defense Support
Program and Space-Based Infrared System, usually provide the first level of immediate
missile detection. The satellite sensors also accomplish nuclear detonation detection.
Ground-based radars provide follow-on information on launches, attack assessment, and
confirmation of strategic attack. Although the primary mission of the ground-based radars is
conducting missile warning, a portion of the radar resource is allocated to conducting space
surveillance; however, the radar is always scanning the horizon for incoming missiles.
These ground-based radar systems include Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, PAVE
PAWS [Perimeter Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased Array Warning System], and Perimeter
Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System. UEWRs are multi-mission radars
supporting the missile warning, space surveillance, and the missile defense missions, and are
integrated into the BMDS to improve midcourse sensor coverage. There is no room for error
in strategic missile warning; therefore, all information provided must be timely, reliable,
accurate, and unambiguous.
(b) Theater Missile Warning. Because the reaction time for theater forces to
respond to incoming missiles is very short (less than 5 minutes), GCCs have adopted a
strategy known as “assured” warning, which weighs accepting potentially false reports
against the time required to obtain unambiguous reports. Under this strategy, the GCCs have
elected to receive quicker launch notifications, understanding the warning could be
ambiguous or inaccurate.
(c) Shared Early Warning. The US exchanges missile detection and warning
information with its allies and partner nations. Shared early warning (SEW) is the
continuous exchange of missile early warning information derived from US missile early
warning sensors and the sensors of the SEW partner, when available. Information on missile
launches is provided on an NRT basis. This information can take the form of data, voice
warning, or both. The objective of SEW is to enhance regional stability by providing theater
BM warning to GCCs, sponsored partner nations, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization
allies. GCCs will recommend/sponsor SEW partner nations. DOD policy is to provide
continuous, NRT, BM early warning information on regional launches that is of the same
high quality and timeliness as the launch warning that would be made available to US forces
if operating in the same area at the same time. Currently, the SEW system provides both
messages and voice warning to partner nations. The Shared Early Warning System includes
both space-based warning and surface radar-based warning. Space-based warning provides
BM warning information from space-based sensors. It is US policy to share with selected
allies, with few exceptions, continuous, NRT, early warning information of BM launches of
the same high quality and timeliness as made available to US forces. Missile warning data is
provided to SEW partners subject to a country-by-country disclosure and arms control
clearance. The release of BM data derived from surface-based radars to surface radar-based
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