MDA completes ‘first of a kind’ ICBM missile defence test

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced on 17 November that it has conducted a successful interception test of a Northrop Grumman-built Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target, using a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA ballistic missile defense interceptor.

Raytheon co-developed the interceptor with Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Involved as the Aegis Combat System Engineering Agent, engineers from Lockheed Martin updated the Aegis weapon system to integrate SM-3 IIA on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Finn. The Aegis system was adapted to target, identify, and intercept the ICBM threat.

As mandated by the US Congress, the test, called Flight Test Maritime-44 (FTM-44) was arranged to demonstrate that the MDA can use the USN Aegis Combat System equipped with the SM-3 IIA to intercept intercontinental threats.

'This vital test demonstrated the latest Aegis Baseline 9.C2.0 capability against an ICBM class threat and introduces the ability to provide layered Homeland Defense with Aegis,' Lockheed Martin announced in a statement.

Jim Sheridan, VP and general manager, added that the successful intercept 'confirms we have inherent capability against long-range ballistic missile threats that can be deployed to all our Aegis Baseline 9 ships and Aegis Ashore sites – at any moment'.

Aegis Baseline 9.C2.0 is built from the Common Source Library and can rapidly integrate new capabilities, including solutions for SPY-1 and SPY-7 radars.

FTM-44 was the first test of its kind, according to Bryan Rosselli, VP of strategic missile defence at Raytheon Missiles & Defense. It ‘shows that our nation has a viable option for a new layer of defence against long-range threats’, he added.

Raytheon Intelligence & Space sensors were also part of FTM-44, which was conducted from the Reagan Test Site in Kwajalein Atoll. Sensors detected and tracked the target and relayed the data to decision makers, in a demonstration of space-based early warning.

Besides its involvement with the ICBM target, Northrop Grumman is prime contractor on the Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) target, which is air-launched from a C-17 aircraft to provide the MDA with flexibility in mission engagement scenarios.

To date, the company has supported three ICBM target launches and five IRBM target launches with 18 more on contract for future test missions with the MDA.