The Missile Defense Agency recently led a flight test of the tracking and engagement functions of the Lockheed Martin-built Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system with three of Raytheon‘s Standard Missile-3 as simulated targets.MDA said Feb. 24 that the test, called Flight Test Other-19, simulated a raid by three ballistic missile targets and the subsequent engagement by Aegis BMD using the Distributed Weighted Engagement Scheme function.
USS Carney, USS Gonzalez and USS Barry participated as Aegis BMD destroyers and worked together to track the missiles and coordinate on engaging them using the automated DWES system, MDA added.
According to the agency, the test also includes a demonstration of fire control and discrimination functions as part of efforts to bolster the MDA Ballistic Missile Defense System and the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach in Europe.
MDA and the U.S. Navy jointly oversee the Aegis BMD program.
