US anti-missile system strikes target in space

"The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target outside the earth's atmosphere during its descent phase of flight test last Thursday.
The weapon system, aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG70), and range sensors confirmed a direct hit of the missile target over the Pacific Ocean. Computer Sciences Corporation develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System software as Lockheed Martin's key team member. Raytheon develops the SM-3.

In addition to the USS Lake Erie, the guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) participated in today's test. A new Aegis BMD Signal Processor (Aegis BSP) installed on the destroyer conducted real-time detection, tracking and discrimination of the target, as well as analysis of target interception.

This is the first time the Aegis BSP was used in an at-sea flight test mission.

This test, Flight Test Mission 04-1, marks the fifth time the CSC Aegis BMD Weapon System software successfully guided the SM-3 to a ballistic missile target intercept. The test was sponsored by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

"This is tangible evidence of the engineering excellence that is bringing missile defense capability to the nation through the MDA and the U.S. Navy," said Aaron Fuller, president of CSC's Defense Mission Engineering and Integration Division.

"The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense team continues to complete each milestone. The surveillance, tracking and fire control capability of the Aegis BMD Weapon System is making missile defense real."

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system and is the basis for Aegis BMD, the primary component of the sea-based element of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The Aegis BMD Weapon System seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System and the SM-3 missile with its own command and control system. It is capable of simultaneous operation defending against advanced air, surface, subsurface and ballistic missile threats."

www.spacewar.com...

This is the "fifth" sucessful test of this system. The significant issue here is the line "outside" the earths atmoshpere. With such a system whatever Iran and N Korea decide to do is irrelevant.

Excuse my scepticism but I'd find these tests a tad more convincing if they didn't foreworn the intercepting unit where and when the target was going to be, its exact flightpath, its speed, its altitude etc etc ......even to the point of putting homing beacons on the 'target'.

Any sort of hit is impressive given the physics involved but then as was discovered in Gulf War mk1 any sort of hit (like the Patriot managed then) need not be effective.

Factor in the mountains (mountain range?) of cash thrown at the US 'defence' industry over this (for the last nearly 25yrs) and things look even less impressive IMO.

sweet and i suppose it could be a ufo defender too lol never know

Originally posted by DrHoracid
This is the "fifth" sucessful test of this system. The significant issue here is the line "outside" the earths atmoshpere. With such a system whatever Iran and N Korea decide to do is irrelevant.

N.K. will bomb either S.K. or Japan. It just messes with peoples heads by testing missiles and sending them at Americas coast line.

As for Iran, they'll send missiles to Israel and American troops before they would the homeland. This system wouldn't really come into play, unless they attack their Navy or Mainland?

Originally posted by Odium

Originally posted by DrHoracid
This is the "fifth" sucessful test of this system. The significant issue here is the line "outside" the earths atmoshpere. With such a system whatever Iran and N Korea decide to do is irrelevant.

N.K. will bomb either S.K. or Japan. It just messes with peoples heads by testing missiles and sending them at Americas coast line.

As for Iran, they'll send missiles to Israel and American troops before they would the homeland. This system wouldn't really come into play, unless they attack their Navy or Mainland?

Actually there are groundbased anti-missile systems in place in the US. There is airborne anti-missile 747's that fly from New Mexico. Now with the Aegis class system this makes a third layer of protection that is moveable and can stay on station longer than aircraft. The issue is the quantity of missiles that are fired. Iran is developing missile that can hit the US. They already have some that can hit Europe. They are just waiting to get Nukes......

Sorry DR. but the 747 ABL systems has not even had a full power up let alone actually fired at a missile. ITs years away from squadron service.

Right Now there are 5 basic systems either fielded or in test:

1) THAAD or Theatre High ALtitude Air Defence: Army project, still in testing stage
2) Airborne Laser Project: Still in pre production. Have not fired up a full power laser system or even flown with all componets on board.
3) Patriot PAC-3: Up and running but only good for Theatre Ballistic Missiles re: SCUD's
4) Navy Project you mention. I think it was previousl known as upper tier.
5) The ABM's currently in place at Ft Greely Alaska and Vandenberg AFB. Psudo operational, but having problems.