The United States Navy, the Missile Defense Agency, and Lockheed Martin recently used the latest version of its Aegis Combat System aboard the USS John Paul Jones to detect, track, and successfully intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target.
The test, called Standard Missile-3 Cooperative Development Flight Test Standard Missile, was aimed at demonstrating the integrated capabilities of the combat system and how it has evolved to counter ballistic missile threats.
“Aegis continues to help sailors pace the threat thanks to upgrades we call baselines that leverage our extensive Common Source Library,” Paul Klammer, director of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), said. “With each baseline, Lockheed Martin brings advanced missile defense capabilities and enhanced integration with other systems external to the ship.”
This is the third generation of Aegis BMD capability. The recent test builds upon a collaborative effort between the United States and Japan.
Lockheed Martin is also producing an Aegis Baseline variant computer program for deployment of Japan’s series of Aegis destroyers.
“This exercise included a series of tests to verify the operation of the Aegis BMD 5.1 Weapon System aboard ship. We’re proud of the Navy and Missile Defense Agency working together with our Lockheed Martin engineers to make this complicated test a success.”