The anti-missile missile defense system was developed by Major Fred Sloan for the US Army's Anti-Missile Missile Program. In theory, it would have allowed the military to intercept short-range missiles with as little as three minutes advance warning from an approaching enemy missile. Preliminary tests for the missile defense system proved successful enough to justify testing against live missiles. Steve Austin was assigned to ensure that Sloan and the activator card arrived at the Red Canyon Military Test Site for the final test of five anti-missile missiles. (Day of the Robot)