The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the
Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Operational Test Agency, in
conjunction with U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, and
Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense,
successfully conducted the first intercept flight test today (December
9, Hawaii Standard Time) of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile
Defense (BMD) weapon system and Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IB
Threat Upgrade guided missile, launched from the Aegis Ashore Missile
Defense Test Complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF),
Kauai, Hawaii.
During the test, a target representing a
medium-range ballistic missile was air-launched from a U.S. Air Force
C-17 aircraft over the broad ocean area southwest of Hawaii. An
AN/TPY-2 radar in Forward Based Mode, located at PMRF, detected the
target and relayed target track information to the Command, Control,
Battle Management, and Communication (C2BMC) system. The Aegis
Weapon System at the Aegis Ashore site received track data from C2BMC
and used its component AN/SPY-1 radar to acquire, track, and develop a
fire control solution to engage the target. The Aegis Weapon
System then launched the SM-3 Block IB Threat Upgrade guided missile
from its Vertical Launch System. The SM-3’s kinetic warhead acquired
the target reentry vehicle, diverted into its path, and destroyed the
target using the kinetic force of a direct impact.
The primary purpose of the test, designated Flight
Test Operational-02 Event 1a, was to assess the operational
effectiveness of the Aegis Ashore capability as part of a larger BMDS
architecture. Aegis Ashore uses a nearly identical configuration of
the Vertical Launch System, fire control system, and SPY-1 radar
currently in use aboard Aegis BMD cruisers and destroyers deployed at
sea around the world.
Vice Admiral James D. Syring, MDA Director, said,
"Today's test demonstrated that the same Aegis Ballistic Missile
Defense capability that has been fielded at sea and operational for
years, will soon be operational ashore as part of the European Phased
Adaptive Approach (EPAA) Phase 2 capability in Romania. I am very
proud of the tremendous effort by the entire government/industry team
in executing this vitally important mission for our Nation and our
allies."
This flight test demonstrates Aegis Ashore
capability as an important component of Phase 2 of the EPAA, of which
MDA plans to announce a technical capability declaration by the end of
this month.
The MDA and the U.S. Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD program.
这次试验的成功,对本月末MDA宣布实现EPAA第二阶段的目标是十分重要的
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