Raytheon, Lockheed Systems Perform To Task
In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test, on Tuesday two
Raytheon Company-built Standard Missile-3s, fired from a US Navy
ship, simultaneously intercepted and destroyed two short-range
ballistic missile targets in space.
Raytheon says this was the first time a Navy ship demonstrated
simultaneous engagements against ballistic missile targets outside
the earth's atmosphere. These were the 10th and 11th successful
intercepts for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system's
SM-3.
The crew of the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
fired both SM-3 Block IA intercepting missiles. The Lake Erie is an
Aegis BMD cruiser equipped with the latest US Navy-certified
version of the Aegis BMD Weapon System (Aegis BMD 3.6), built by
Lockheed Martin.
Personnel at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai
launched the ballistic missile targets. The Japanese guided missile
destroyer JS Kongo also participated in the test to detect, track
and conduct a simulated engagement of the ballistic missile targets
using its newly-installed Aegis BMD Weapon System.
"These successful intercepts add to SM-3's impressive flight
test record and are a clear demonstration of Raytheon's commitment
to Mission Assurance," said Frank Wyatt, Raytheon's vice president
of Naval Weapon Systems. "SM-3 plays a vital role in protecting our
nation against the threat of ballistic missiles."
SM-3 is being developed as part of the Missile Defense Agency's
sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. The missiles will
be deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers to defend against
short-to-intermediate range ballistic missile threats in the
midcourse phase of flight. Raytheon also is developing the kinetic
warhead for SM-3.
"With two targets engaged simultaneously, both the system and
crew are under additional stress and today they performed
flawlessly," said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general
manager of Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line
of business.
"With Aegis, we build a little, test a little and learn a lot,"
Carvalho added. "Today's test is the twelfth planned flight mission
to methodically and incrementally fully verify the Aegis BMD
capability. It is this rigorous engineering and test philosophy
that is giving our nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System the
edge it needs to deter and defeat ballistic missile threats."