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Statement of Work for the SDI Space Based Interceptor

by Ron Kurtus (21 November 2007)

The Space Based Interceptor (SBI) was intended to be a vital part of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) in that it would be a means to intercept and destroy incoming enemy missiles before they reached the continental United States (CONUS). Martin-Marietta and Rockwell International were the competing prime contractors in developing SBI hardware and software. Each company submitted a Statement of Work (SOW) as part of their contract.

Questions you may have include:

• What was the Space Based Interceptor?
• What role did the contractors have?
• What was the Statement of Work?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Space Based Interceptor (SBI)

The Space Based Interceptor was originally called the Space Based Kinetic Energy Weapon System (SBKEWS) to differentiate it from the proposed high-energy laser system, which was called the Direct Energy Weapon System (DEWS). Kinetic energy meant that the interceptor would use its velocity to damage and destroy a missile. It was also called a "smart rock" because it was like throwing a guided rock at the missile.

SBKEWS was then changed SABIR (as in saber). The acronym was finally simplified to SBI.

(As you can tell, the military is really in love with acronyms. Also, with the numerous changes, it makes one wonder if someone in charge had too much time on his hands.)

Since actual anti-ballistic missile tests were forbidden by international agreement, the program was considered a System Concept and Integrated Technology (SCIT). This means only research and development of the concept and technologies was being performed.

Contractors

The prime contractors that were providing competing designs for SBI were Martin-Marietta, located in Denver, Colorado area and Rockwell International, located in Redondo Beach, California.

Rockwell had an advantage of being only a few miles from the Los Angeles Air Force Base (AFB), where the Air Force's SDI program offices were located. The proximity did not really affect the competition.

SBI and DEWS program offices were located in the top secret Building 80, which was located by itself about a mile from the Los Angeles AFB.

Statement of Work (SOW) sample

An unclassified copy of the Rockwell International Statement of Work for the Space Based Interceptor (SABIR) System Concept and Integrated Technology (SCIT), dated 11 May 1987 is available for your study. It is not the compete SOW, which is top secret. Instead, this is Attachment 1, which gives an overview of the proposed work planned by Rockwell. The Martin-Marietta SOW was similar.

SBI SOW - PDF 298KB

Note that clicking on Table of Contents items will take you to that page in the document.

Summary

The Space Based Interceptor was a vital part of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Its mission was to intercept and destroy incoming enemy missiles. The program was only intended to be research on the concept and technologies. Martin-Marietta and Rockwell International were the prime contractors in developing SBI. Each company submitted a Statement of Work (SOW) as part of their contract.

Reader questions and feedback

Defense is often the best offense

Resources

The following are some resources on this topic.

Websites

Nuclear Resources and the Strategic Defense Initiative - From the Federation of American Scientists

History of the Missile Defense Organization - U.S. Department of Defense

Strategic Defense Initiative - From Encarta

Books

Secret Weapons of the Cold War: From the H-Bomb to SDI by William Yenne; Berkley (2005) $7.99

US Strategic And Defensive Missile Systems 1950-2004 by Mark A. Berhow, Chris Taylor; Osprey Books (2005) $16.95

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What was the objective of the SBI SCIT?

2. What was a major contractor task?

3. How was the contractor supposed to verify its design?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in learning from SDI History. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Strategic Defense Initiative topics

Statement of Work for the SDI Space Based Interceptor