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DOD PROGRAMS
AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE (AEGIS BMD)
The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) element is intended to provide
U.S. Navy surface combatants with the ability to defeat short-range (less than
1,000 kilometers), medium-range (1,000 to 3,000 kilometers), and long-range
(greater than 3,000 kilometers) ballistic missiles during exoatmospheric flight.
The Aegis BMD element consists of two major components: the shipboard
Aegis Weapon System (AWS) and the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) missile.
The AWS detects and tracks the threat and provides midcourse uplink
information to the SM-3 missile. The SM-3 missile is a four-stage hit-to-kill
missile launched from an Aegis ship.
The Aegis BMD flight test program has achieved four successful intercepts
in five attempts. These flight tests have demonstrated the capability to
intercept short-range, simple unitary targets in both descent and ascent
phases of flight, and in the case of FM-6, have shown the capability to
destroy the target warhead. In FY03, two intercept attempts of a unitary
target in its ascent phase were conducted. In the first test, the Aegis BMD
element successfully intercepted the target. Using a newly designed divert
system onboard the SM-3 missile, the Aegis BMD failed to intercept the target in the second test. The cause of the failed
intercept has been attributed to a malfunction in a divert valve in the attitude control system onboard the kinetic
warhead. Testing is continuing based on the consistent performance of the sustained pulse mode, while mitigation
options are evaluated.
In FY03, the operational robustness of the Aegis BMD Block 2004 test program was enhanced by increased operational
realism in the test strategy. Efforts to add operational realism as part of the developmental test strategy provide
significant risk reduction in advance of operational testing and potential deployment of the element. The planned growth
in flight test realism is consistent with the maturity of the system. Although the Block 2004 flight test plan includes many
operationally realistic aspects, some important operational scenarios will remain untested by the end of the Block 2004
test program. These include multiple simultaneous engagements and separating targets. Development and integration of
critical technologies pertaining to threat discrimination (e.g., AWS discrimination logic, radar and infrared seeker
upgrades) and missile propulsion (e.g., kinetic warhead divert system, SM-3 booster propulsion) could improve
operational capability as they are introduced in Block 2004 and subsequent upgrades.
Initial assessments of the Aegis BMD Surveillance and Track (S&T) capability to support integrated BMDS missions
were also conducted as part of the FY03 flight test program. The goal of the Aegis BMD S&T effort is to allow GMD to
use Aegis tracking data to generate search cue commands for the Ground Based Radar Prototype in order to acquire and
track ICBM class targets. As part of this effort, Aegis BMD is participating in the GMD IFT program. Depending on the
accuracy of Aegis track data, the Block 2004 Aegis BMD S&T capability could contribute to GMD detection and
tracking. Aegis BMD participated in both IFT-9 and -10 to evaluate its capability to support more integrated missions in
future flight tests.
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