[JLRC]

All Test Objectives Met in Test of Sea-based Interceptor Missile Maneuvering System
 
 
(Source: Missile Defense Agency; issued Aug. 18, web-posted Aug. 19, 2004)
 
 
 The capability to maneuver an interceptor missile towards its target is vital to having a successful defense against ballistic missiles.  
 
As part of the Missile Defense Agency’s continuous development and testing program to field effective defenses against ballistic missile attacks, we successfully completed a very important ground test on July 26, 2004 involving an advanced interceptor missile maneuvering system that could enable an interceptor missile launched from a U.S. Navy Aegis cruiser or destroyer to more effectively “steer” itself directly into the path of an enemy missile warhead before it can hit its target with a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon.  
 
Traveling at several thousand miles per hour, the steering system must have the capability to adjust the interceptor’s flight path very quickly in terms of both speed and direction while tracking the target so that it can directly collide with the target warhead. This is the cornerstone of “hit to kill” technology, which uses only kinetic energy to destroy the target, and doesn’t rely on explosives.  
 
The recently completed test of the Throttleable Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) for the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) sea-based interceptor missile will help MDA to apply this advanced technology not only to sea-based missile defense, but will also help us in our research and development program for other missile defense technologies, including missile interceptors that can someday destroy hostile missiles shortly after they are launched, in what we call a ballistic missile’s “boost phase”.  
 
Sea-based missile defense is one of several missile defense technologies currently in development and testing. The overall objective is to develop, test and deploy effective missile defenses that can intercept and destroy hostile ballistic missiles of any range (short, medium, intermediate and long-range) during any phase of flight.  
 
Sea-based missile defenses that will be added to some existing Aegis ships can utilize the mobility of the ships to better position missile defenses in any of the world’s oceans to protect our deployed military forces, and also to help defend our friends and allies. Sea-based missile defenses also have the potential to someday provide a defense against long-range missiles directed at our homeland and other countries.  
 
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[JLRC]

Raytheon Delivers Five STANDARD Missile-3 Rounds for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
 
 
(Source: Raytheon Company; issued Dec. 21, 2004)
 
 
 TUCSON, Ariz. --- Raytheon Company has delivered five STANDARD Missile-3 rounds to the Missile Defense Agency for deployment as a key element of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.  
 
The rounds are available for deployment on Aegis cruisers and destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the midcourse phase of flight or for flight testing.  
 
Raytheon marked the first SM-3 delivery with a ceremony in Tucson on Oct. 22.  
 
"Raytheon's deliveries of these STANDARD Missile-3s will help provide the United States with the first sea-based line of defense against a limited ballistic missile attack," said Ed Miyashiro, Raytheon's vice president for Naval Weapon Systems. "Our team is very proud of developing and delivering this needed capability."  
 
As the prime contractor, Raytheon is responsible for the development and integration of the SM-3 "all up round," including the SM-3 kinetic warhead. Other SM-3 team members include Aerojet, Alliant Techsystems and The Boeing Company.  
 
Since January 2002, the Aegis BMD system has successfully intercepted targets in space four times with SM-3. In all the flight tests, the SM-3 was launched from a U.S. Navy cruiser under very realistic, operational conditions.  
 
There is already international interest in Aegis BMD and SM-3. Japan made the decision earlier this year to procure Aegis BMD and SM-3 missiles for its Kongo-class Aegis destroyers.  
 
Raytheon is also responsible for the manufacture and deployment of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program and is the interceptor lead for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor program. Raytheon is also providing the Sea-Based X-band radar and Upgraded Early Warning Radar for the GMD segment, the Space Tracking and Surveillance System payload, the Ballistic Missile Defense System radar, and THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) radar and battle management software.  
 
Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 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 78,000 people worldwide.  
 
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[JLRC]

Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Maneuvering System Successfully Tested
 
 
(Source: Missile Defense Agency; issued Jan 7, 2005)
 
 
 The Missile Defense Agency announced today the successful completion of an important test of the maneuvering system that will be used to position SM-3 sea-based missiles to a “hit to kill” intercept with a short or medium range ballistic missile warhead before reaching its target.  
 
The Navy’s Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) ejects a Kinetic Warhead (KW) prior to intercept, after being guided to a favorable position by the Aegis Weapon System. The KW’s propulsion system is the Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS) which controls up, down and side to side maneuvering. Presently, the SM-3 SDACS uses an effective “sustained pulse” mode to position the KW as it travels to intercept the threat. Four of five successful intercept flight tests have been conducted using the sustained pulse SDACS.  
 
On November 30, 2004, an evolutionary enhancement, a multi-pulse mode, of the SDACS was ground tested. The SDACS test performed a simulated mission that included multi-pulse operations designed to improve the KW’s energy and lethality during in-flight maneuvers. All test objectives were met.  
 
Full unit ground testing will begin this winter to support a flight test later in CY 2005. The timing for insertion of multi-pulse SDACS into tactical missiles will be determined by the results of remaining ground and flight tests.  
 
A successful test program could lead to incorporation of a multi-pulse SDACS in early 2006.  
 
The SM-3 will operate from Aegis BMD capable cruisers and destroyers to defend against short to medium range ballistic missiles that threaten our deployed forces overseas, our friends and allies. Over the next five years, up to three Aegis cruisers and 15 Aegis destroyers will be capable of firing SM-3 for ballistic missile defense.  
 
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