The
Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI), Japan Ministry
of Defense, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation
with the U.S. Navy, announced the successful completion of a Standard
Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA flight test from the Point Mugu Sea Range,
San Nicolas Island, California. The interceptor's bigger rocket motors
and more capable kill vehicle will engage threats sooner and protect
larger regions from short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. |
"The
SM-3 Block IIA program reflects the MDA's commitment to maturing this
capability for the defense of our nation, deployed forces, and our allies
abroad," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems
president. "The success of this test keeps the program on track
for a 2018 deployment at sea and ashore."
The mission, Control Test Vehicle-01, evaluated the SM-3 Block IIA's
nosecone performance, steering control section function, booster separation,
and second and third stage rocket motor separation.
During the test, a SM-3 Block IIA was launched from a MK 41 launcher
located at the U.S. Navy's Point Mugu Sea Range on Saint Nicolas Island
in California. A target intercept was not included in the testing scenario.
About the Standard Missile-3
SM-3s destroy incoming ballistic missile threats in space using nothing
more than sheer impact equivalent to a 10-ton truck traveling at 600
mph.
More than 200 SM-3s have been delivered to date.
SM-3 Block IB is deployed at sea and will be deployed ashore in 2015
in Romania.
SM-3 Block IIA is on track for deployment at sea and ashore in 2018. |
