US Navy's destroyer USS Daniel Inouye successfully intercepts Ballistic Missile.

According to information published by the US DoD on March 30, 2023, the Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, successfully conducted Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1a (FTM-31 E1a).
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A Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP) is launched from the destroyer USS Daniel Inouye. (Picture source: US DoD)

The test demonstrated the capability of a ballistic missile defense (BMD)-configured Aegis ship to detect, track, engage, and intercept a medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) target in the terminal phase of flight utilizing the Standard Missile–6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP) in a single salvo of two interceptors.

FTM–31 E1a was the third successful flight test of an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel using the SM–6 Dual II missile and the first Aegis Baseline 9.C2.0 (BMD 5.1) intercept of an MRBM target using the SM-6 Dual II SWUP missile.

FTM-31 E1a highlights adjustments made after FTM-31 E1, conducted in May 2021, which did not meet all its objectives. The successful execution of this mission validates that the upgraded SM-6 Dual II SWUP capability is now ready for use by the warfighter in order to defend and protect our allies and deployed forces worldwide.

The target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii. The firing ship used for this test was the USS DANIEL INOUYE (DDG 118), which launched two SM-6 Dual II missiles and successfully intercepted the MRBM.

SM-6 delivers over-the-horizon, air defense capability and can perform anti-air warfare, ballistic missile defense, and anti-surface warfare missions. The SM–6 Dual II SWUP missile is designed to defend against short-to-medium range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight.

The Sea Based Terminal (SBT) program, with the Aegis Baseline 9 Weapon System and SM-6 missile, is instrumental in MDA’s efforts to deliver a capability to the Navy to defend high value assets at sea and ashore against advanced threats in the terminal phase of flight. SBT is an incremental and evolving capability for ballistic and regional hypersonic defense capability.

The number of BMD-capable Aegis ships has been growing over time. MDA’s FY2023 budget submission states that “by the end of FY 2023 there will be 50 total BMDS [BMD Systems] capable [Aegis] ships requiring maintenance support.”

Ballistic missile

Ballistic missiles are weapons that use powered flight for short periods to launch warheads onto specific targets. However, most of their flight trajectory involves unpowered motion. Short-range ballistic missiles remain within the Earth's atmosphere, whereas intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) follow a sub-orbital path.