Aerojet supports Japan BMD test

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Aerojet says the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's recent successful ballistic missile intercept was supported by its booster technologies.

U.S. company Aerojet announced the test, which used a Raytheon Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA missile, was supported by its MK 72 booster and MK 104 dual-thrust rocket motor.

"Our propulsion systems have performed reliably on every SM-3 flight and intercept test to date," Dick Bregard, Aerojet vice president of Defense Systems, said in a statement.

The intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target was a mark of continued success for Japan's sea-based missile defense capabilities and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, Japanese Defense Ministry, Raytheon and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries along with Aerojet.

Aerojet says the industry and government partnership is working to develop a next generation of the SM-3 to counter more advanced threats.