U.S. MDA Aegis Flight Test Features Multiple Targets
Aviation Week & Space Technology
11/05/2007, page 42
On the heels of a successful intercept demonstration from its mobile land-based missile defense system, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency is shifting its focus for a test this week of the sea-based Aegis ballistic missile defense system with its most complex target set to date.
The Aegis radar and interceptor system on board USS Lake Erie will be the primary system for the trial. It will be pitted against two short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) targets launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility near the island of Kauai, Hawaii, nearly simultaneously. The ship, operating in the Pacific area, will be required to detect, track and target the hostile surrogates. It must also fire two of its own SM-3 Block 1A interceptors for the engagement portion of the flight trial.
|