Search:
MDAA Polski Back To Home

Ballistic Missile Defense Intercept Flight Test Record
Ballistic Missile Defense Intercept Flight Test Record
(as of February 26, 2013) 
 

Overall Test Record

·          58 of 73 hit-to-kill intercept attempts have been successful across all programs since the integrated system began

·          Development in 2001

·          Includes Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Terminal High

·          Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3

 
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Testing Record

 

   

Hits

Misses

No Test Due to: Target Failure

Success %

Total

Sea-Based Tests

SM-3 Interceptor

 

21

6

0

77%

27

SM-2 Block IV Interceptor

 

3

0

0

100%

3

Total

(All Systems)

24

6

0

80%

20

 

§   24 intercepts in 30 at sea attempts (does not include additional intercept during Operation Burnt Frost in Feb. 2008)

§   Includes three Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) blast fragmentation (no hit-to-kill) intercepts

§   Causes of Failures:

§   FM-5 – SM-3 Block 0 interceptor divert and attitude control malfunctioned

§   FTM-11 – Fire-control malfunctioned because of operator error; SM-3 Block IA missile was not launched

§   Pacific Blitz exercise – One target was intercepted, another was missed; all interceptors were version Block I missiles that had exceeded their service life

§   JFTM-2 – SM-3 Block IA interceptor divert and attitude control malfunctioned

§   FTM-16 Event 2 – Failure Review Board completed, pending final review

§   FTI-01 – Pending investigation

 


 

 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Testing Record

 

 

   

Hits

Misses

No Test Due to: Target Failure

Success %

Total

Ground-Based Tests

THAAD Interceptor

 

10

0

3

100%

13

             

Total

(All Systems)

10

0

3

100%

13

 

  • 10 of 9 10intercept attempts
  • Current test program began in 2006 and all tests involve the operationally configured interceptor
  • FTT-04, FTT-10, and FTT-11 are characterized as "no-tests" - Target malfunctioned after launch, interceptors were not launched

 



Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Testing Record

 

 

   

Hits

Misses

No Test Due to: Target Failure

Success %

Total

Ground-Based Tests

Ground-Based Interceptor

 

8

7

1

53%

16

             

Total

(All Systems)

8

7

1

53%

16

 

§   8 of 15 intercept attempts (3 of 5 successful intercepts using operationally configured interceptors) since 1999

  • Causes of Failures:
    • IFT-4 - Kill vehicle's infrared sensor cooling malfunctioned
    • IFT-5 - Kill vehicle and booster did not separate
    • IFT-10 - Kill vehicle and booster did not separate
    • IFT-13c - Interceptor failed to launch due to problematic software configuration
    • IFT-14 - Interceptor failed to launch after a silo support arm did not retract, triggering an automatic abort
    • FTG-06 - Kill vehicle and system sensor performance issues
    • FTG-06a - Kill vehicle guidance error in final seconds of flight
  • FTG-03 is characterized as a "no-test" - target malfunctioned after launch, interceptor was not launched

 




Privacy Policy  |  Site Map  |  Glossary  |  About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Home
   Missile Defense Advocacy Agency 515 King Street Suite 320 Alexandria, VA 22314 | 703-299-0060 | info@missiledefenseadvocacy.org