BMD Watch: SM-2 hits terminal phase target

WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced on June 5 another successful test of its Aegis ship-deployed anti-ballistic missile system.

The test, designated Flight Test Maritime 14 -- FTM-14 -- was the 14th successful test of the system in the past 16 attempts, the MDA said. But Thursday's test was particularly notable because it was only the second successful test of the system against a target missile in its terminal phase. The interception was carried out by a modified Standard Missile-2, Block IV -- SM-2 Blk IV -- interceptor, the agency said.

The test was "the 35th successful terminal and mid-course interception in 43 tests since 2001," the MDA said.

In the test, the cruiser USS Lake Erie -- CG-70 -- fired two SM-2 Block IV interceptors at a target missile that had been launched four minutes earlier 300 miles away from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. Two minutes after being fired, the interceptors destroyed the target, the agency said.

Interception took place within the earth's atmosphere, 12 miles -- more than 60,000 feet -- above the Pacific Ocean 100 miles west-northwest of Kauai, the MDA said.

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brad Hicks, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program manager at MDA, told a June 5 conference call with reporters that his agency planned to use the SM-2 Blk IVs as a near-term solution for the sea-based terminal threat.

Hicks said he thought as many as 40 of the SM-2 Blk IVs eventually could be deployed as a temporary expedient until more effective interceptors could be produced to replace them. He said these deployments could start by the end of this year.

Space.com on Monday cited Hicks as saying terminal phase SM-2s could be used in addition to ground-based Patriot ABM batteries.

Space.com also noted that the prime contractor for the Aegis system was Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, based in Moorestown, N.J., while the SM-2 Blk IV was manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson.

U.S. Army gears up for THAAD

The U.S. Army is now operating the first battery of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system -- THAAD.

THAAD is manufactured for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency by Lockheed Martin. The company said in a recent statement that Alpha Battery/4th -- A4 -- Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command is being equipped with 24 THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers, a THAAD Fire Control and a THAAD radar in the deployment. The battery also will be equipped with logistics support assets including a Battery Support Center and an Integrated Contractor Support System.

"This is a historic day for the U.S. Army's Air Defense community," said Tom McGrath, program manager and vice president for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "The first battery receiving the THAAD weapon system signifies that we are one step closer to the day THAAD will be protecting our soldiers, friends and allies around the globe."

Lockheed Martin said the A4 Battery planned to start full-system fielding of its THAAD weapons starting next year. The company said the battery was already undergoing unit training with the system since April.

"The THAAD Weapon System is enjoying excellent success in this current development phase," McGrath continued. "THAAD's precision engagement capabilities, combined with the power of the hit-to-kill engagement, offer the war fighter tremendous protection from the threats of today and tomorrow. Soldiers from Fort Bliss have successfully operated the THAAD system in flight testing for two years, and will continue as flight testing progresses."

Lockheed Martin said at least two more THAAD flight tests were planned over the summer before the conclusion of Fiscal Year 2008 at the end of September, with two more already planned for Fiscal Year 2009 which starts on Oct. 1, 2008. The company noted that THAAD had completed seven successful flight tests since November 2005, and it had hit "threat representative targets" in four of them.

Lockheed Martin said it was making the THAAD system's launcher and fire control and communications unit components at its factory in Camden, Ariz., while the THAAD interceptors were being made at the company's Pike County factory in Troy, Ala.

The company noted that THAAD remains the only ballistic missile defense system planned to intercept incoming ballistic missiles "at both endo- and exo-atmospheric altitudes."