An SM-3 Block IA ballistic missile interceptor launched from the Japanese destroyer JS Myoko successfully destroyed a medium-range target during a test Oct. 27 in the Pacific, according to U.S. defense officials and Lockheed Martin executives.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) says the missile intercepted its target at about 6:04 p.m. local time. The target was detected and tracked by crew onboard the Myoko; the crew also developed the firing solution. The intercept took place in space, roughly 100 miles over the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. ships USS Lake Erie and USS Paul Hamilton also detected and tracked the target and conducted a simulated engagement of it, MDA officials say.

This engagement was Japan's first intercept attempt since a failure during a test on Nov. 20, 2008 (Aerospace DAILY, Nov. 21, 2008). U.S. officials added a test to the schedule in July to validate changes in the system brought about by that failure.

Asked about last year's failure and subsequent fixes, Lockheed officials demurred in a teleconference with reporters Oct. 28 and said to ask MDA.

The Myoko will take on additional SM-3 Block IA missiles prior to returning to Japan.

The Lake Erie is equipped with the next iteration of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon System, the BMD 4.0.1, which provides additional target discrimination capability. In the latest test, it tracked the missile target and post-intercept debris using its advanced signal processor, which will be stressed further next week in another test with a "very complex" separating target, according to the executives. This follows a test concept of applying the processor against increasingly separated targets. Full operational certification of BMD 4.0.1 is expected in 2011.

European plans

The executives hailed the latest testing success under the guise of the Obama administration's announced moves to sideline intercontinental Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors in Europe for the Aegis system, including shore-based facilities. In the teleconference, executives exuded confidence that the so-called Aegis Ashore variant could be ready by 2015, per defense officials' plans, partly due to existing U.S. land facilities used to develop sea-based Aegis, as well as ongoing modifications to that system.

A land-based Aegis system would be easier in some aspects, like better communications capability due to secured cable lines, as well as the fact that the tracking and engagement system is not operating from a rolling ship at sea. "Some things are easier, some things are harder," said Nick Bucci, director for Aegis BMD Development Programs.

Jimmy Carter, director for Aegis Program Management, said Lockheed Martin's Surface-Sea Based Missile Defense line of business, in Moorestown, N.J., likely would be the lead land-based site for developing Aegis Ashore. But it would probably have to be well supplemented by White Sands, N.M., due to Vertical Launch System capabilities there.

MDA recently awarded Lockheed a $1 billion contract for continued development and evolution of the Aegis BMD. That award is not directly related to the administration's European plans, except that ship installations planned under the current program could obviously be utilized for such later, executives said. Under the latest deal, Moorestown will design, develop, integrate, test, deliver and install further Aegis BMD capability for the U.S. and allied navies.