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Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the Missile Defense Agency, has successfully completed Flight Experiment Mission-02 with a live exoatmospheric intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target using the Aegis Guam System from the island of Guam.
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The successful test of the US-territory’s missile defence capabilities comes at a time of mounting tensions in the Western Pacific, following recent significant Chinese exercises surrounding Taiwan.
Linking together with the island-based Aegis ashore system on Guam and integrating the AN/TPY-6 Radar, the Mk.41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) with standard missile is designed to aide with pacing the Indo-Pacific threats and expanding joint all-domain operations for Guam and the wider region.
Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager of integrated warfare and sensor systems at Lockheed Martin, celebrated this successful test, saying, “In partnership with the MDA, Lockheed Martin went from contract award to intercept flight test in less than two years. This rapid integration of capabilities to demonstrate the defence of Guam was enabled by leveraging proven systems and Lockheed Martin’s systems engineering, production and test excellence.”
The Flight Experiment Mission-02 test took place from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and demonstrated the defence of Guam against an air-launched medium range ballistic missile.
Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director Lieutenant General Heath Collins congratulated the industry and defence teams, saying, “This is a tremendous group effort and provides a glimpse of how organisations within the Department of Defense have come together to defend our homeland Guam now and in the future. Collectively, we will use this to build upon and validate joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defence capabilities for Guam. Thanks to all of those involved, especially the people and government of Guam.”
The Aegis Guam System was successful in acquiring and tracking the target using the AN/TPY-6 radar, planning and conducting the missile engagement using the Aegis system, launching the interceptor from the VLS on Guam, and intercepting the target over the broad ocean area.
This test provided the Department of Defense a better understanding of the missile defence system’s ability to counter threats in a realistic environment and the preliminary analysis indicates a significant step forward in the MDA’s efforts to protect the United States and its allies from emerging missile threats.
Unpacking the impact of this successful interception, Rear Admiral Greg Huffman, Commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia, said, “It confirmed our ability to detect, track, and engage a target missile in flight, increasing our readiness to defend against evolving adversary threats. The event’s success is a testament to the incredible work of the team both within the DOD and the government of Guam.”
Within the context of homeland defence for the mainland United States, a top priority for the Department of Defense, Guam is also a strategic location for sustaining and maintaining United States military presence, deterring adversaries, responding to crises, and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
