Examining where the various missile defense programs actually are in their development cycles, Victoria Samson, CDI Research Analyst, has charted out the flight test programs for the following systems:

Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense System

Ground-based Midcourse Missile Defense System’s Boost Vehicle

Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Missile Defense System

Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missile Defense System

Through these updated charts, we can see how very far the programs have to go before they can realistically be considered assets to the United States’ defensive posture.