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May 2002,
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld testifies before a US Senate defense subcommittee.
"One of the programs that apartment is pursuing is a revitalized effort to test
"and develop ballistic missile defenses capable of defending the US,
"our friends and allies.
"On September 11th, terrorists took commercial jetliners and turn them in
"the missiles killing thousands.
"Let there be no doubt that is only a matter of time before terrorist states
"armed with weapons of mass destruction develop the capability to deliver those
"weapons to US cities
"giving them the ability to try to hold america hostage to nuclear blackmail.
"with the power in breach of weapons today we have a little margin for error
"and we need defenses that can deter and defend against such attacks."
The Missile Defense Agency, MDA,
is conducting part of our national response against this threat.
Directing the testing of a variety of ballistic missile defense systems
designed to provide a layered defense for the United States and his friend.
A sea bass mid-course defense element
is part of the current testing phase.
To ensure its success
MDA is directing a team of experienced government,
Navy, and industry professionals,
charged with testing and developing this missile defense system.
With four at-sea missile tests successfully completed,
including the last test, FM-2 in January 2002,
for the first at-sea firing and intercept of a missile occurred in space.
The team and test ship joined together again to prepare for their 5th test
and show they can do it again.
A defensive sea based system against ballistic missile attack
has been developed, undergone testing,
and been evolving since the early 1990s.
It's built upon proven technologies in the Aegis Weapon System and Standard Missile
Lockheed Martin, who developed and manufactures Aegis,
is the combat system engineering agent
for the Navy's Program Executive Office for theaters surface combatants,
and coordinates all activities across the FM-3 Navy industry
team for the ALI tests.
The Standard Missile is built by Raytheon
and is designed for use against short and medium range threats.
Testing now centers around a series of 9 Aegis LEAP,
Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile Intercept,
or ALI flight missions.
Conducted off the Hawaiian coast on the pacific missile test range,
the current flight missionar FM-3 flies essentially the same profile
as the previous test. The big difference, the test objective.
CAPT Hammerer of the BMD test ship USS Lake Erie discusses the upcoming test.
"Well the principle objective about FM-3
"is to hit the target.
"It's that simple."
"If we can have repetitive successes, I think that would demonstrate conclusively,
"that we have the technology and the capability of being able to intercept
"a ballistic missile in space."
Hit a missiles with another missile before it destroys you.
There is knowledge, engineering, and plain hardwork to make was once considered
impossible, a reality.
More than the technology of the system
is the force behind it all,
the team.
It's a strong team with many heavy hitters
and veteran players.
All government, civilian, Navy,
and contractor prose,
getting ready for the FM-3 test event.
Fearsome words from the ALI prose of ballistic missile defense,
development of the Aegis system spans over 30 years. Much of this is being
conducted at the Combat System Engineering Development Site, CSEDS,
by Lockheed Martin.
As the Navy's combat system to engineering agent in Morrestown, New Jersey,
including systems integration of all the weapon systems
and the commanding control computer programs necessary for ballistic missile defense.
Martin Burnore, Lockheed Martin MEIT,
Multi Element Integration and Test Director
talks about the elements of the Aegis Weapon System which are the core of the
sea based missile defense system.
"Lockheed Martin, Morrestown,
we developed the Aegis Weapon System.
"We develop computer programs that make up
"the Aegis Weapon System which would be
"the SPY element for the radar.
"We design and develop the command and decision program.
"We designed and developed
"The Aegis display system.
"The ORTS program that goes along with that.
"All those elements,
"specifically, WCS, C&D, SPY 0:05:10.6290:05:14.679 "they are the core elements
"to support the event with the SM-3 missile."
Engineer Mark Wood from Lockheed Martin on CSEDS
and the extensive preparation and analysis that is conducted before the test
to ensure mission success.
"We have a series of test that we run at CSEDS.
"Basically all the testing that we do
"during WIT is done ahead of time at CSEDS.
"We analyze data from the previous missions, that's one of the first things.
"As we look at what we did in the past, we spend approximately two months
"of intense analysis of that data that we acquired from the mission
"and we identify any problems that may have come up or maybe we were not
"even aware of until we did the data analysis."
Waterfront Integration Testing, or WIT,
is what is happening with the test ship in port and at-sea periods
before the actual test event.
A lot happens here
and Pat McWherter, NSWC/Port Hueneme division explains.
"We have a couple of different phases of WIT,
"and the first phase obviously is the installation of the gear
"and there is quite a bit of gear that goes along with the ALI computer program,
"modification of VLS, the inert operational missile and associated test equipment
"so all that stuff has got to be
"installed and its got to be hooked up to the
"Aegis combat system.
"and checked out. We run various
"nominal scenarios, baselines scenarios, we run different casualty scenarios
"All that has to be done
before we can start linking with off ship assets, such as PMRF.
As part of the Aegis Weapon System,
another major component in the sea based missile defense system,
is the missile,
the new SM-3.
Scott Robinson of Raytheon, the SM-3 engineer in charge of these tests
discusses the missile.
"Raytheon's role is to provide
"the new missile, build it,
"test it for the appropriate specifications,
"demonstrate that the missile met its performance requirements
"during the flight test.
"My primary function is properly integrate the missile, with the ship,
"and make sure that the that it's fired in the appropriate manner that we are intending to."
The vertical launching system or VLS, is the launching system for the SM-3 missile.
Actually in VLS you can't see the missile until it's launched,
because it's contained inside a canister
United Defense's Scott DeGarmo talks about the VLS canister.
"We are the sole design agent of the canister,
"that houses the SM-3 missile.
"We manufactured it, we do all the design, everything on that canister.
"We are also the mechincal design agent
"for all the MK-41 VLS,
"along with Lockheed Martin is the prime on that.
"Our support lies mostly in the launcher area."
The SM-3 missile needs to know the correct time of day for it to
function properly.
What provides it is VGI:
VLS to GPS integrator.
For the test, this responsibility belongs to Lockheed Martin Dan Conland.
"Our role is to
"set up the the VGI, VLS to GPS integrator
"and it provides a hot source message to the missile.
"We set it up prior to,
"we broke up our maintenance interface files
"so we can tell what's going on with the system
"during the mission, we monitor what is going on with the system
"and make calls back to the LCU telling the quality of the GPS data."
An Aegis SPY-1 radar engineer is at
the call of the RSC operator if required.
Our SPY pro is Mike Doyle from Lockheed Martin.
Here he talks about the team aspect of the test.
"We have a team of people here from all different organizations
"thats been working together for about 4 years
"and it is pretty much the same core group of people.
"We tested the things together out at CSEDS before we ever came aboard a ship for the first time.
"Like I said we are on our 5th firing already.
"Everybody knows each other, we are used to sharing
"information with each other. Everybody like each other.
"In the end we are looking for the same mission.
"There don't seem to be any barriers or road blocks.
"just one big team, everybody's doing there part, and we win the game in the end."
NSEC/Dahlgren's expert Dave Breede controls operations for the
shipboard Very Small Apertures Satellite Relay System, VSAT.
providing real-time communications between the aegis cruiser and PMRF,
primarily supporting range safety operations.
Simultaneously, the satellite sends engineering data to Lockheed Martin in
Morrestown, New Jersey,
Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona, and others for quick reaction and data analysis capability.
"The VSAT network itself, and the capability it provides is brand new
"We are bringing sites around the country, basically onto the ship
"while we are performing the tests. In real time they are getting data from the missile
"they know exactly what the missile is doing, say in Tucson, Arizona 0:10:23.050,,0:10:27.500 "while we are shooting out here off the coast of Hawaii
"They can see exactly what the missile is doing."
Besides CG-70, USS Lake Erie,
other navy ships will participate in the test to collect data used to analyze
the results, after FM-3 is over.
Aboard Aegis destroyer USS O'Kane, weapons officer Lt. Dave Gray's
job is to link track sensor data from thier ship to Lake Erie,
and also act as one of the data gathering platforms.
"We're suppose pick it up about 60 seconds after launch
"it will still be in the boost,
"before it hits apogee, we will catch it
"and we'll be tracking it,
"we put it into the link,
"so all the other players know that it's up.
"We have a good track on it,
"and let SPY track the whole way in
"collecting data constantly on the target."
Rocket launch services of the Aries missile targeted are provided by
Al Lopez representing Sandia Labs
"Our role in the flight mission test
"is to provide rocket launch services for
"integration, testing, and
"launching of the target test vehicle for the flight mission tests.
Finally, representing the Navy and PMS 452 is Dr Eric Hedlund
who looks at the big picture of all the test data that is gathered and analyzed
"I think we are in the initial phases of the testing
"FM-2 was a significant first step
"FM-3 will be another significant step
"we have a fair amount of data to collect
"the data from this mission has been vital in
"assessing the closure of the fire control loop, can we get a bullet with
"the bullet in space."
To assist in this large and important data gathering effort,
and integrated photo documentation team was assembled
from government,
military, and contractor organizations
to make sure all the necessary visual,
sensor, and electronic data was captured and stored for each test event.
All MDA Navy flight mission testing is supported and conducted from the
Pacific Missile Range Facility
located on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii.
PMRF supports a wide variety of training exercises and developmental tests
involving space, air, surface, and subsurface units.
PMRF provide simultaneous real time tracking information on participants,
targets, and weapons,
on 42,000 square miles of sea and airspace
during an exercise event.
Before FM-3 begins, as part of the MDA Navy management oversight process
a Mission Control Panel or MCP is held at NSWC/Port Hueneme division,
evaluating technical mission aspects to ensure proper program management.
"On the 14th of June,
"my intention
"is to send a signal
"that we have met the exit criteria for this project.
"But that means we all have to pull together
"as the team that you have become
"to make sure
"that the gotchas, the devil does not get us.
"Details details details."
During return from the final WIT,
an SM-3 missile is loaded into the designated cell of the
vertical launching system in preparation for FM-3.
In the upcoming video of the test
SM-3 operation throughout its flight is displayed in model form driven
by actual real-time missile telemetry data
In addition,
missile flight coverage recorded by a variety of sensor systems is shown
and identified.
On the morning of June 10,
USS Lake Erie, CG-70, with its officers, crew, and the ALI team
depart for the pacific missile test range.
Importantly, all flight mission missile defense tests
are executed by the actual officers and crew at their battle stations aboard a
deployed navy combat ship.
Some 300 miles off the Hawaiian island of Kauai,
on the pacific missile test range
CG-70, Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie awaits the target firing.
Back at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai,
the test target,
an Aries ballistic missile undergoes final countdown.
Ships force, using the Aegis Weapon System
sets up a spy radar search sector
for the ballistic missile,
preparing for targeting engagement with thier SM-3 missile.
"4..3..2..1..Mark, Target Away" A combined view
of the launch from
ground-based cameras,
along with the camera mounted on the side of the target
provides a unique perspective as the target climbs above the atmosphere
and into space showing the
Earth's curvature.
The Aegis Weapon System detects the target as it breaks the radar horizon,
while it is still in its boost phase at a range of more than 250 mile.
As the SPY radar transitions to target track,
a fire control solution for intercepting the aries target
is quickly calculated by the Aegis Weapon System
and provided to the operator.
During the five minute time period after target detection
the Aegis Weapon System continuously updates its fire control solution,
while the SPY-1 radar tracks the target before SM-3 launch.
The Missile System Supervisor, MSS,
selects the missile designated for firing
"15 second countdown, fire authorized."
Just prior to launch, the SM-3 missile is initialized
with GPS data and also
position and velocity data for the target and the missile
"4..3..2..1..Fire Authroized." "Birds away."
Within seconds, the SPY-1 radar system acquires and tracks the SM-3 missile.
Shortly afterwards,
the booster burns out and separate.
Acceleration commands by SPY radar uplink message data
are computed by the Aegis Weapon System
and transmitted to the SM-3 missile,
keeping it on a target intercept path.
In the upcoming steps in SM-3 flight,
three critical events occur.
The second stage burns out and separates.
The Aegis Weapon System provides the missile with both the missile's
and target's position and velocity data
and the missiles uses that data to perform the first of two pulse burns.
this first pulse occurs when the missile is in the exo-atmosphere,
increasing the missile's velocity and directional control.
Missile guidance employs GPS aided navigation in the third stage
time duration for coasting is also provided to the SM-3 by the
Aegis Weapon System.
While coasting, the missile performs a pitch maneuver
and ejects the nose cone.
Next, the second pulse burn performs the final velocity increase and force correction
placing the missile on a collision course with the target.
At completion of the second pulse burn,
the thrid stage attitude control
orients the missiles so that it points at the target.
Now the kinetic warhead, or KW, separates from he thrid stage,
stabilizes it's attitude,
points to the line of sight to the target
and acquires target image.
Because of SPY radar accuracy,
the Aegis Weapon System is able to put the target dead center in the
SM-3's infrared seeker field of view. The square around the target image
indicates that the target is now in track and divert guidance has commenced
the Kinetic Warhead
impacts the Aries target.
It is a direct target hit for the second time in two tests.
Here is a slow-motion replay of the target impacted by the KW.
This view recorded by the Halo II airborne system
shows the SM-3's third stage rocket motor or TSRM, is clearly visible.
Here's the KW.
Travelling downward from the top of the screen is the Aries target.
The bright flash is evidence of the KW impacting the target.
As the TSRM continues to fly to eventual atmospheric reentry.
Another view after target impact by the KW
shows the visible debris after the hit as the target and the KW break apart
displayed by sensor data
from the Airborne Surveillance Testbed, AST aircraft.
In the KW IR seeker view,
the square around the target image indicates that the target is now in track
and divert guidance has commenced.
Because of spy radar accuracy,
the Aegis Weapon System is able to put the target dead center in the SM-3's
infrared seeker field of view.
Target features are clearly visible in the last IR seeker frame,
received through telemetry prior to impact.
MDA, the test community from Hawaii,
and throughout the country
experience a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment,
as they witness the test live over the ship's VSAT PMRF video conference link.
But the celebration of success is short,
with the realization that hard work is only beginning.
As test data gathered from FM-3 for analysis streams into the range facility.
Ongoing data analysis of the test results gathered from FM-3 will
pave the way for the next test of the nine test series,
FM-4, schedule for fall, 2002.
As proved in earlier tests the precision fire control and guidance accuracy
necessary for a ballistic missile intercept is repeatable
with the Aegis system,
and demonstrated again for the second time
a Kinetic Warhead impacts and destroys a ballistic missile targeted in space
at long range.
Hit the target. The primary test objectives for FM-3 is
accomplished, showing SM-3 Kinetic Warhead can repeatedly
intercept a ballistic missile target
in conjunction with the Lockheed Martin developed sea-based Aegis Weapons System.
"Today the Aegis system performed superbly and flawlessly.
"It was a most remarkable demonstration of the capacity of the
"Aegis system to engage ballistic missile targets."
With the successful completion of FM-3,
the Missile Defense Agency, the Navy, and the test team much to be proud of.
Proud of another job well done,
and aware of the path ahead,
developing an Aegis sea shield for defense of our country, and friends
in a new era of challange.