Aegis component passes design review

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TUCSON, March 29 (UPI) -- A complex component of the new SM-3, Block IIA Aegis missile being built by U.S. and Japanese companies has passed preliminary design review.

Raytheon said the PDR was conducted on the missile's throttleable divert and attitude control system -- basically a rocket motor with four main divert nozzles and six attitude control nozzles that enable the weapon to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

"The TDACS is the most complex component of the SM-3 Block IIA," said Wes Kremer, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air and Missile Defense Systems product line.

"The design detail and test data presented at the PDR demonstrated the TDACS is ready for the next phase of development."

The SM-3 Block IIA Aegis features larger engines and an advanced kinetic warhead is being developed a co-development effort between the United States and Japan and the cornerstone of phase three of the administration's Phased Adaptive Approach. The missile's larger rocket motors and advanced kinetic warhead.

It is expected to be delivered in 2018.

Raytheon is developing all variants of the SM-3 as part of the Missile Defense Agency's sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.