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On June 22, 2007, Missile Defense Agency and US Navy
achieved a 9th successful exoatmospheric intercept of a ballistic
missile target from the sea.
Flight Test Mission-12 was the most recent sea based ballistic missile
defense campaign,
and included the first engagement test for an Aegis destroyer
and the third successful test against the medium range, separating ballistic
missile target.
The medium range target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the
island of Kauai. The target flew a nominal trajectory and roughly halfway through
the flight, the mock warhead separated from the booster.
The USS Decatur was positioned over 250 nautical miles off the coast.
The ship's crew was not informed
of the exact target launch time or trajectory.
Based on pre-exercise intelligence
the firing ship's crew programmed the SPY-1 radar to perform a search design for
achieving the BMD mission objectives. As the target rose above
the horizon, the SPY-1 radar acquired the target
and placed it in track. The ship was prepared to defend an area based on
intelligence provided by Third Fleet.
When this SPY-1acquired the target, the weapons system proceeded to develop a fire
controlled solution.
Approximately three minutes after target launch,
the ship's crew fire the SM-3 Blk IA.
The missile completed booster burn and separation, followed by second stage
rocket motor burn and separation.
During this stage of flight, the Aegis BMD weapon system
uplinked guidance commands to the SM-3.
An airborne camera tracked the missile throughout most of the flight.
After second stage separation, the third stage rocket motor ignited,
propelling the SM-3 up out of the atmosphere
and into space.
After the first pulse burned out, The missile pitched over and ejected the nosecone.
Then the missile pitched back towards the target
and the second pulse ignited.
Throughout the third stage fly out, the Aegis BMD weapons system
provided target complex updates to the SM-3.
Roughly 30 seconds prior to intercept, the Kinetic Warhead was
ejected from the third stage. After separation
operation of the solid diverted attitude control system was initiated.
The KW acquired the target its field of view and
began tracking and performing maneuvers to achieve a collision.
The target image grew in the field of view.
Mark India!
Another direct hit. The energy from the impact is calculated
to be in excess of 125 mega joules.
The equivalent of a 10 ton truck
traveling over 600mph..
This test once again demonstrated the system's ability to acquire, track and intercept
a separating ballistic missile warhead,
but for the first time, from an Aegis BMD destroyer.
Numerous ground, sea and air based sensors observed the intercept.
This test also verified the missile downlink system
using the modified MK-99 radar
to collect KW seeker video images for kill assessment.
This was the 9th successful intercept
for the Aegis BMD program.
The engagement was performed under
strict operational testing conditions.
In addition the USS Decatur, several other ships, aircraft
and ground-based assets participated in the event
and tracked the target.
An Aegis BMD cruiser with SPY-1 radar
modified with the BMD signal processor upgrade
and the Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez
were among other ships in these events.
A THAAD ground-based radar also observed the target launch and exchange track data with
USS Decatur by tactical data links.
The Missile Defense Agency and US Navy
are continuing to improve and deploy this Aegis BMD capability with the
delivery of additional Aegis BMD destroyers and
SM-3 Blk IA missile.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense
On target and forward deployed.