Tag Archives: Standard Missile-3 Block IIA

Missile Defense, Missiles & Guided Weapons, Rocket

Japan Flight Test

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (KDRSS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced on December 27, 2022, that its Defense & Rocket Systems business supported the successful intercept test of a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target by a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA fired from the JS Maya (DDG-179), marking the first time that a Japanese Maya-class destroyer has fired an SM-3 Block IIA. The intercept was the highlight of the Japan Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-07 (JFTM-07) event which featured four Kratos subscale ballistic missile targets that was conducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) over a span of two weeks from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Hawaii. During the event, the Kratos team also supported a live-fire event featuring the engagement of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) target by the JS Haguro (DDG-180). Altogether, Kratos along with Government and industry partners, integrated and launched three MRBM targets and one SRBM target in support of these mission critical national security related exercises.

JS Maya (DDG-179)
Kratos Rocket Systems Supports Multiple Successful Ballistic Missile Intercept Tests During Japan Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-07 Event

The three-stage MRBM targets feature a “payload” mounted atop Kratos’ proven Oriole rocket motor and two government surplus Terrier Mk-70 rocket motors, while the two-stage SRBM target uses a Kratos Oriole and one Terrier Mk-70, to deliver the respective payloads to specific mission requirements. All four target vehicles, which have an incredibly successful, flight-demonstrated heritage on test and intercept missions for the US Navy and the MDA, executed nominal trajectories while meeting target requirements.

Kratos is a leading provider of products, solutions, and services supporting ballistic missile defense for Aegis, hypersonic testing, atmospheric science research and technology maturation. «Our team works side-by-side with our government customers to deliver transformative and affordable target systems and vehicles from mission inception through successful launch operations. JFTM-07, which was one of our largest recent mission campaigns, is just the latest example», said Dave Carter, President of KDRSS. «We are grateful to be able to continue supporting the U.S. DoD and its allies in this very important mission area».

Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said, «These multiple successful missions with our government partners are representative of Kratos’ industry differentiating ability to rapidly develop and field relevant systems, at an affordable cost, in support of National Security priorities. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and our mission is to disrupt the traditional procurement and cost model, providing our customers mission relevant products and systems at an affordable cost, enabling rapid, high-volume operations, testing and fielding».

Missile Defense, Rocket

ICBM target

The Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted a Northrop Grumman Corporation built Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target that was launched during a flight test from the Reagan Test Site in the Kwajalein Atoll.

FTM-44
Company’s ICBM target and its ground control systems contribute to homeland defense test

FTM-44 satisfies a Congressional mandate to demonstrate that the MDA can use the Navy’s Aegis Combat System equipped with the Standard Missile 3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) to intercept intercontinental threats.

«As the ICBM target prime contractor for the Missile Defense Agency, we understand how critical it is to launch a realistic threat target to ensure our nation’s defense systems work when called upon», said Scott Lehr, vice president and general manager, launch and missile defense systems, Northrop Grumman. «With this successful test, the MDA has successfully demonstrated critical capabilities for the defense of our country utilizing many of Northrop Grumman’s missile defense capabilities».

Northrop Grumman is also the prime contractor on the Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) target, which is air-launched from a C-17 aircraft to provide the MDA with flexibility in mission engagement scenarios. To date, the company has supported three ICBM target launches and five IRBM target launches with 18 more on contract for future test missions with the MDA. Northrop Grumman also offers additional short, medium and long-range targets to meet evolving threats.

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

SM-3 Block IIA Missile Excels in First Ever ICBM Intercept Test

 

ICBM
The MDA successfully intercepted a Northrop Grumman built ICBM target that was launched during a flight test from the Reagan Test Site in the Kwajalein Atoll
Air Force

17 SM-3 Block IIAs

The Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon Company $87 million to purchase long-lead materials needed to produce up to 17 Standard Missile-3 Block IIAs that will be used for testing and initial deployment. A follow-on contract for the additional materials, parts and components is expected by early 2016. Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is on track for deployment in 2018.

The Standard Missile-3 Block IIA’s larger rocket motors will allow it to take out threats sooner
The Standard Missile-3 Block IIA’s larger rocket motors will allow it to take out threats sooner

«Our Japanese partners have been tremendous allies in this development program, and together we’ve taken ballistic missile defense to the next level», said Doctor Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. «When the SM-3 Block IIA deploys in 2018, we will have a greater degree of protection than ever before».

The SM-3 Block IIA has larger rocket motors and a bigger, more capable kill vehicle that allows it to take out threats sooner in flight and protect larger regions of land. «The SM-3 Block IIA can be used at sea or on land with no modification to the missile», said Amy Cohen, Standard Missile-3 program director. «The SM-3 is the only ballistic missile defense interceptor that can be deployed both ways, and that flexibility is a tremendous asset».

The program is on track for both land and sea deployment in 2018 in line with Phase 3 of the U.S.’s Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defense of U.S. deployed forces and allies in NATO Europe.

 

About the Standard Missile-3

SM-3s destroy incoming ballistic missile threats in space using nothing more than sheer impact, which is equivalent to a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph/966 km/h.

  • More than 230 SM-3s have been delivered to date.
  • SM-3 Block IB will be deployed at sea and ashore in 2015 in Romania.
  • SM-3 Block IIA is on track for deployment at sea and ashore in 2018 in Poland and/or Romania.
Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 Block IIA completed its first flight test on June 6, 2015, at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Saint Nicolas Island Facility, California (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)
Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 Block IIA completed its first flight test on June 6, 2015, at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Saint Nicolas Island Facility, California (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)