Aegis BMD System Completes Successful Tracking of Medium-Range Ballistic Missile Target

The Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) successfully conducted a flight test involving the launch of a medium-range ballistic missile target from the Pacific Missile Range Facility located on Kauai, Hawaii.

At approximately 9:02 p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time, May 17; 3:02 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 18) the target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility. John Paul Jones, positioned west of Hawaii, detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar using the Aegis Baseline 9.C1 Weapon System. This was a non-intercept test, and the ship did not launch any rounds during this engagement.

The flight test, designated Flight Test Other-21 (FTX-21), successfully demonstrated the ability of an Aegis Baseline 9.C1 (BMD 5.0 Capability Upgrade) configured ship to detect and track a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) target within the Earth's atmosphere.

Program officials will evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test. The MDA will use test results to improve and enhance the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The MDA and the U.S. Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD program.