For the 2nd time in a quarrel , the Department of Defense has successfully quiz a fundamental missile denial system capable of detecting , tracking , and at last striking down an foeman ballistic projectile .
On October 26 , the US Missile Defense Agency ( MDA ) establish an “ enemy ” intermediate - chain ballistic projectile from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai , Hawaii . sailor aboard the Navy warship USS John Finn then detected and track it using an onboard radar system , before launching a Standard Missile-3 ( SM-3 ) Block IIA capable of successfully tracking and intercepting the psychometric test missile in dramatic footage captured above the clouds .
Speaking toReutersunder the condition of namelessness , MDA official say they are confident they have even out previous takings that caused the interceptor system to fail . This milestone present the US is up to of chance upon down incoming intermediate - range missiles , which are effective for 480 to 960 kilometers ( 300 to 600 mil ) , from countries like Iran and North Korea .
“ This was a superb attainment and key milestone for the SM-3 Block IIA return to escape . My kudos to the entire team , include our sailors , industriousness partners , and allies who helped attain this milestone , ” said MDA Director Lt . Gen. Sam Greaves in astatement . The test reportedly assemble its objective based on initial data review and program officials will keep on to evaluate the organisation ’s functioning .
SM-3 Block IIA is currently being developed by the US and Japan and operates as part of theAEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System , a 17 - twelvemonth task direct to fight down the US and its allies from ballistic missile attacks .
“ The AEGIS Weapon System ( AWS ) is a centralized , automated , command - and - control ( C2 ) and arm ascendancy system that was designed as a total weapon system , from detection to kill , ” says the US Navy on itswebsite .
Reuters reports the organization will puzzle out toward intercepting medium - range projectile , whose effective space is roughly 965 to 5,310 kilometers ( 600 to 3,300 miles ) , in the coming months . ( For denotation , North Korea to San Francisco is roughly 8,800 kilometers/5,500 miles . ) Ultimately , the system could be deploy in Poland at a situation designated as a future US missile defensive measure meshwork , Missile Defense Advocacy AllianceChairman Riki Ellison told Reuters .
After detecting and tracking the target missile , the navy ship establish an SM-3 Block IIA guided projectile that successfully intercepted it . MDA
