German and Indian shipbuilders vie for Project 75I submarine contract
Another twist has occurred in India's tortuous pathway to obtaining six AIP-equipped submarines, as Germany seeks pole position.
SM-3 Block IIA in new intercept test
The US Navy and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have successfully completed the intercept flight test of Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA from USS John Paul Jones against a land-launched target resembling an advanced ballistic missile threat, the company announced on 4 February.
The mission was designed to evaluate key missile system performance, including the kinetic warhead, divert and attitude control system functionality, nosecone performance, steering control section function, booster performance and separation, second and third stage rocket motor performance and separation.
The interceptor's kinetic warhead has been designed to address advanced and emerging threats, with improvements to the search, discrimination, acquisition and tracking functions. The kinetic warhead allows SM-3 Block IIA to engage more sophisticated threats and protect larger regions from short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats, providing greater operational flexibility.
Taylor W Lawrence, president at Raytheon Missile Systems, said: 'The SM-3 Block IIA programme continues to reflect MDA's commitment to maturing this regional ballistic missile defence capability for the defence of our nation, its deployed forces and our allies abroad.'
Future flight tests will continue to evaluate system performance, en-route to a 2018 deployment in support of the European Phased Adaptive Approach Phase 3.
The SM-3 Block IIA has previously undergone testdemonstrations without target intercepts, in order to evaluate the missile and prepare for the first intercept test.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![German and Indian shipbuilders vie for Project 75I submarine contract]()
-
![Buy more subs, urges Norwegian Defence Chief]()
Buy more subs, urges Norwegian Defence Chief
The Norwegian Chief of Defence has recommended the Scandinavian country procure more submarines in a report to the government about the future shape of its armed forces.
-
![Contenders for Malaysia’s LMS Batch 2 tender emerge at LIMA 2023]()
Contenders for Malaysia’s LMS Batch 2 tender emerge at LIMA 2023
Apart from making progress with its troubled LCS programme, the priority for Malaysia's navy right now is the next three Littoral Mission Ships.
-
![Italy marks progress on U212 NFS programme, as plans for next-gen submarines emerge]()
Italy marks progress on U212 NFS programme, as plans for next-gen submarines emerge
On 6 June at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard, steel was cut for the Italian Navy's second U212 Near Future Submarine (NFS).
-
![Romania quietly joins European Patrol Corvette effort]()
Romania quietly joins European Patrol Corvette effort
Romania has joined the effort to develop a future surface ship under the PESCO European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project.
-
![US and UK contract Kratos for Submarine Ballistic Missile Reentry Systems material testing]()
US and UK contract Kratos for Submarine Ballistic Missile Reentry Systems material testing
The US and UK have contracted Kratos Southern Research Engineering Division (SRE) for thermo-mechanical, high-heat, high-sheer re-entry material testing worth up to almost $47 million.
