Lockheed, Navy test Aegis system

MOORESTOWN, N.J., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's Aegis ballistic missile defense system successfully tracked a short-range missile target from three ships in a key test.

The recent test was conducted off Wallops Island, Va., by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin.

"This event verified that both the Aegis BMD systems and crews aboard the ships are able to execute the missions necessary to support the nation's missile defense strategy," said Lisa Callahan, vice president of Lockheed's maritime BMD systems. "Aegis BMD is effective, affordable and interoperable with other systems and produces a layered air and missile defense capability to protect the U.S. homeland, our deployed forces and our allies."

In the test, called Atlantic Trident, the cruiser USS Monterey and destroyers USS Ramage and USS Gonzalez successfully tracked a short-range ballistic missile target. The Monterey and Ramage also simulated target solutions that would have resulted in successful intercepts.

Additional details weren't disclosed.

Lockheed said the test was the first of the system conducted on the East Coast. Previous tests were conducted at Pacific Ocean test ranges.

The Aegis BMD system is employed by 21 U.S. warships.