Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy Report Aegis Weapon System Success in Complex Target Test

The MDA and U.S. Navy executed Stellar Sisyphus, testing Aegis Weapon System's tracking and intercepting capabilities against a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with countermeasures off Hawaii's Pacific Missile Range Facility.

The first phase of the test involved a multi-sensor evaluation of the Aegis Weapon System's ability to track and discriminate against a complex target scene. Results indicated successful tracking and discrimination against the challenging target scenario.

The subsequent stage witnessed the firing of a Standard Missile – 3 Block IIA (SM-3 Blk IIA), which intercepted the same Medium Range Ballistic Missile target, confirming additional functionalities of the interceptor.

“Together, this test demonstrated one of the most complicated target discrimination and intercept missions by the Aegis Weapon System to date,” the MDA said.

Participating assets included U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), along with the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex and Advanced Radar Development Evaluation Laboratory. These units contributed to collecting essential tracking data on the target throughout the test.

While the primary objective was the tracking event, the successful intercept by the SM-3 Blk IIA and the Aegis Weapons System provided an unexpected but welcome validation of additional capabilities. The data collected during the test will serve as a foundation for modeling and simulation, informing future enhancements and improvements in tracking and discrimination capabilities.