Lockheed Martin-MDA-U.S. Navy Aegis BMD Weapon System Guides Missile to Target Intercept
(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Feb. 24, 2005)
KAUAI, Hawaii --- The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with its Standard Missile (SM)-3 successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target outside the earth's atmosphere during its descent phase of flight today.
The Aegis Weapon System, aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), and range sensors confirmed a direct hit of the missile target over the Pacific Ocean. Lockheed Martin develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System and serves as the Combat System Engineering Agent for Aegis BMD. Raytheon Company develops the SM-3.
In addition to USS Lake Erie, the guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) participated in today's test. A new Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Signal Processor (Aegis BSP), installed on the destroyer, conducted real-time detection, tracking and discrimination of the target, as well as analysis of target interception. This is the first time the Aegis BSP was used in an at- sea flight test mission.
This test, Flight Test Mission 04-1, marks the fifth time the Lockheed Martin Aegis BMD Weapon System successfully guided its SM-3 to a ballistic missile target intercept. The test was sponsored by the Missile Defense Agency.
"This was another extraordinary achievement for the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy," said Fred Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems & Sensors business unit. "The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense team is committed to successfully completing each milestone, and has once again proven the surveillance, tracking and fire control capability of the Aegis BMD Weapon System to meet every new challenge."
The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system and is the basis for Aegis BMD, the primary component of the sea-based element of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System. The Aegis BMD Weapon System seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System and the SM-3 missile with its own command and control system. It is capable of simultaneous operation defending against advanced air, surface, subsurface and ballistic missile threats.
Currently, Aegis Weapon System capabilities are on 68 U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers on station around the world. Plans are currently underway to install the system on an additional 18 U.S. Navy destroyers. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the weapon system of choice for Japan, Korea, Norway and Spain. Recently, Australia selected Aegis for its new Air Warfare Destroyer program.
Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system, PAC-3. It also has considerable experience in interceptor systems, kill vehicles, battle management command, control and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as radar and other sensors that enable signal processing and data fusion. The company makes significant contributions to all 10 major U.S. Missile Defense Systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships. Lockheed Martin Corporation is headquartered in Bethesda, MD. (ends)
Raytheon Standard Missile-3 Intercepts Target in Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Test
(Source: Raytheon Company; issued Feb. 24, 2005)
PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, KAUAI, Hawaii --- The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) destroyed a ballistic missile outside the earth's atmosphere during an Aegis BMD Program flight test over the Pacific Ocean. Raytheon Company develops the SM-3. Lockheed Martin develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System.
The Feb. 24 mission -- the fifth successful intercept for SM-3 -- was the first firing of the Aegis BMD "Emergency Deployment" capability using operational versions of the SM-3 Block I missile and Aegis BMD Weapon System. This was also the first test to exercise SM-3's third stage rocket motor (TSRM) single-pulse mode. The TSRM has two pulses, which can be ignited independently, providing expansion of the ballistic missile engagement battlespace.
The SM-3 was launched from the Aegis BMD cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and hit a target missile that had been launched from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii.
"This successful flight test demonstrates the tactical, operational capability of SM-3 and the Aegis BMD Weapon System in real-world conditions," said Edward Miyashiro, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president, Naval Weapon Systems. "Successes like we've seen today provide decision makers the confidence to proceed with deploying in quantity, providing the Nation with a robust capability that will defend the U.S., deployed American forces, our friends and our allies. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is for real."
Japan has made decision to procure Aegis BMD with SM-3 for its Kongo class ships.
Raytheon's Missile Systems business in Tucson, Ariz., is developing SM-3 and leads the integrated team effort, which includes Alliant Techsystems, Aerojet, and The Boeing Company, which are providing major subsystems. Lockheed Martin developed the Aegis BMD Weapon System. Raytheon delivered five SM-3 operational rounds to the Missile Defense Agency in 2004. The program is transitioning to production, with Kinetic Warhead seeker and final integration occurring in Raytheon's state-of-the-art Kill Vehicle manufacturing facility, alongside the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle. Final assembly and test will occur in Camden, Ark.
Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
Raytheon's hit-to-kill successes with the sea-based STANDARD Missile-3 occurred on Jan. 25, June 13 and Nov. 21, 2002, and Dec. 11, 2003; and with the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, part of the Ground-based Missile Defense program on Oct. 2, 1999; July 13 and Dec. 3, 2001; and March 15 and Oct. 14, 2002.
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