Satellite detects launch
Warhead
Kill vehicle
Intercontinental
ballistic missile
Multi-stage
booster
1
2
3
Radar tracks flight
1st line of defence
Patriot and THAAD interceptors launch from South Korea
2nd line of defence
Aegis ballistic missile interceptors fire from warships in the Pacific
3rd line of defence
Interceptors fire from Alaska and California. Kill vehicle tracks incoming warhead and alters course to collide at 15,000mph
Warhead
Kill vehicle
Satellite detects launch
Intercontinental
ballistic missile
Multi-stage
booster
Ground- and sea-based radars track missile’s flight
1st line of defence
Patriot and THAAD interceptors launch from South Korea
2nd line of defence
Aegis ballistic missile interceptors fire from warships in the Pacific
3rd line of defence
Interceptors fire from Alaska and California. Kill vehicle tracks incoming warhead and alters course to collide at 15,000mph