Aegis weapon system successfully intercepts two short-range ballistic missile targets
Missiles fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii, were intercepted by a ship using the Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System. (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)
The Vigilant Wyvern joint test saw USN Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carl M Levin detect, track, engage and execute missiles fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii.
The US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carl M Levin successfully intercepted multiple targets in an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) test executed by the USN Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
The ship is fitted with Baseline 9 Aegis Combat System and this was a key part of the exercise which was described in a statement as ‘an Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) engagement of two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets.’
‘The test, designated Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-48 (FTM-48) by the MDA, demonstrated the IAMD engagement of two short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) targets with two Standard Missile 3 Block IA (SM-3 Blk IA) interceptors, and engagement of two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets with four SM-2 Blk IIIA interceptors.’
As part of the IAMD Priority Mode, ships can integrate classic air defence with new discrimination and tracking capabilities to defend against coordinated, simultaneous missile attacks.
Seiko Okano, program executive officer – integrated warfare systems for RDML, said: ‘The success of Vigilant Wyvern is a huge milestone. This test event is the first of its kind and an excellent example of collaboration between organizations, further progressing a unified mission to increase capability.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
![NATO seeks suppliers for a new, improved variant of the Sea Sparrow missile]()
NATO seeks suppliers for a new, improved variant of the Sea Sparrow missile
The NATO Sparrow Project Office has outlined its interest in exploring cutting-edge technologies to be integrated into the ESSM Next Significant Variant.
-
![US Coast Guard sets sail in search of robotics and CUAS capabilities]()
US Coast Guard sets sail in search of robotics and CUAS capabilities
The USCG has been increasing efforts to accelerate the process to develop, procure, deploy and sustain autonomous and counter-uncrewed systems across its fleet.
-
![Managing risk in a changing world: how the Royal Navy can win]()
Managing risk in a changing world: how the Royal Navy can win
A fighting force such as the Royal Navy must inevitably focus on its core capabilities, platforms and readiness. But to avoid unexpected outcomes and costly oversights, a complex organisation like this needs to be underpinned by sound enterprise-level risk management principles and systems.
