In first operational test, U.S. Aegis system downs two ballistic missiles
WASHINGTON — In the first such test, a U.S.-origin sea-based missile
defense system has intercepted two target ballistic missiles.
Officials said the Aegis missile defense system engaged and intercepted
two ballistic missile targets in a test off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii on
Wednesday. They said this marked the first operationally realistic test that
involved two unitary targets.
The Missile Defense Agency identified the interceptor as the Standard
Missile-3 Block 1A missile, Middle East Newsline reported. In a test that included Japan, the SM-3 was
fired from the USS Lake Erie, and the Aegis detected and tracked the
targets as well as developed fire control solutions.
"Approximately two minutes later, the USS Lake Erie's crew fired two
SM-3 missiles, and two minutes later they successfully intercepted the
targets outside the earth's atmosphere more than 100 miles above the Pacific
Ocean and 250 miles northwest of Kauai," MDA said. "The intercepts used
hit-to-kill technology, meaning that the targets were destroyed when the
missiles collided directly with the targets."
Lockheed Martin has been the prime contractor of the Aegis BMD system.
Raytheon was the prime contractor of the SM-3 interceptor.
The U.S. Navy plans to equip 18 surface vessels with the Aegis. Japan
has purchased Aegis BMD capability for its Kongo-class Aegis destroyers.
