WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, using a Standard 2 Block IB missile, has destroyed a separating ballistic missile over the Pacific.
The U.S. Department of Defense said the system detected and tracked the short-range missile target with its AN/SPY-1 radar onboard the USS Lake Erie off Hawaii and launched the Standard 3 weapon, which maneuvered to intercept and kinetically destroy the target.
"Initial indications are that all components performed as designed," officials said.
The test marked the third consecutive successful intercept test of the Aegis BMD 4.0 weapon system and the SM-3 Block IB guided missile and the 25th successful intercept in 31 flight test attempts for the Aegis BMD program since 2002.
"Across all Ballistic Missile Defense System programs, this is the 59th successful hit-to-kill intercept in 74 flight tests since 2001," officials said.
Aegis BMD is the naval component of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System.
