Homeland Defense of Hawaii: Protecting the State Against the Evolving Ballistic Missile Threat Presented by China, Russia, and North Korea

China, Russia, and North Korea continue to invest heavily in ballistic missile technology, expanding their nuclear weapon employment capabilities and presents a persistent threat to the safety and security of America. Due to their relative proximity to Hawaii, they pose a significant challenge to the homeland defense mission. A comprehensive evaluation of near-peer threat countries and rogue states' ballistic missile capabilities provide the necessary data to assess the effectiveness of the current United States' ballistic missile defense program. A detailed analysis of the global missile defense system examines the sensors, communications, and kill vehicle interceptors required to detect, identify, track, target, and defeat adversary ballistic missiles during launch, boost, mid-, and terminal-phases of flight. The focus of the investigation is the Pacific region and the ability to defend Hawaii against a ballistic missile attack from China, Russia, or North Korea. This research paper will attempt to identify any potential gaps in the layered missile defense system by answering the primary question: How does America defend Hawaii against the evolving ballistic missile threats posed by China, Russia, and North Korea?