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Aegis Radar System (SPY-1 Radar)
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is the sea-based element of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System that has been tactically certified, deployed and contributes to the ongoing BMD System under development. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense leverages and builds upon capabilities inherent in the Aegis Weapon System, Standard Missile, and Navy Ballistic Missile Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence systems. Aegis is at sea, on patrol, certified, and on alert, performing a strategic role in Homeland Defense. It is a core mission of the U.S. Navy, and a keystone in its “Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower.”
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Long Range Surveillance and Track
- Aegis Destroyers, on Ballistic Missile Defense patrol, detect and track Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and report track data to the missile defense system. This capability shares tracking data to cue other missile defense sensors and provides fire control data to Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors located at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. To date, sixteen Aegis Cruisers and Destroyers have been upgraded with the Long Range Surveillance and Track capability.
- At-sea tracking events and flight tests have verified the capability to track Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and demonstrated the connectivity and reliability of long-haul transmission of track data (across nine time zones) necessary to support missile defense situational awareness, target cueing, and engagements.
Engagement Capability
- Aegis Cruisers and Long Range Surveillance and Track Destroyers are being equipped with the capability to intercept short and medium range, unitary and separating ballistic missile threats with the Standard Missile 3.
- Flight tests are conducted using operational warships, operated by fleet Sailors and Officers. Each test progressively increases the operational realism and complexity of targets and scenarios. To date, there have been nine successful intercepts out of eleven attempts. The next flight mission is scheduled for summer, 2008.
- The engagement capability will be resident in three Aegis Cruisers and 15 Destroyers by 2009. Additionally, the capability is present on several Japanese ships and other nations are interested.
Testing
- To date, including a dual engagement in November, 2007 and the first test by an allied Navy in December, 2007, the Aegis BMD has had 12 intercepts in 14 attempts, including two intercepts by two interceptors during one test. Multiple tests are planned for each year.
Future Capabilities
- Increased precision track data via radar signal processing upgrades, improving both Long Range Surveillance and Track and engagement capabilities.
- Defense against intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- Increased international participation in sea-based ballistic missile defense capabilities.
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