Navy shoots down ICBM in space

| November 18, 2020

The KoB sends in this news, with the message “BZ Swabbies!”

An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was shot down in space from a warship for the first time during a successful demonstration on Tuesday, according to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The ICBM target missile launched from a test range in the Marshall Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the Philippines around 12:50 a.m., and was shot down in space by a missile launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn at sea, the MDA announced.

It was destroyed by an advanced SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile defense interceptor made by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and co-developed with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a statement said.

“This was an incredible accomplishment and critical milestone for the Aegis BMD SM-3 Block IIA program,” said MDA Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill. We have demonstrated that an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel equipped with the SM-3 Block IIA missile can defeat an ICBM-class target, which is a step in the process of determining its feasibility as part of an architecture for layered defense of the homeland.”

Bryan Rosselli, vice president of Strategic Missile Defense at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, said the test was a “first-of-its-kind” and shows that the U.S. “has a viable option for a new layer of defense against long-range threats.”

Previous tests to shoot down ICBMs were conducted using ground-based interceptors launched from bases in Alaska and California.

“My congratulations to the entire test team, including our military and industry partners, who helped us to achieve this milestone,” Hill added.

Tom Karako, a missile defense expert and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), hailed the operation as a “milestone for homeland defense.”

“The operational flexibility implied by today’s success creates a bridge toward a future, next generation homeland defense capability,” he told Fox News in an email Tuesday. “It also signals hope for better realigning our regional missile defense efforts to the renewed strategic competition with the likes of China, such as with Aegis Ashore in Guam. It now falls to the next administration to make those big bets, and take those next steps.”

The U.S. military has been racing to build up its missile defense interceptor forces on land and sea as the threat from North Korea, China, and Russia’s nuclear forces continue to grow.

North Korea unveiled its largest intercontinental ballistic missile to date during its massive military parade on Oct. 10, the 75th anniversary of its Workers Party.

In 2017, North Korea test-fired three ICBMs, which most experts say now puts the entire United States in range.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency maintains 44 ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Warships equipped with ballistic missile defense interceptors such as the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) are currently on deployment.

Source; Fox News

Category: Bravo Zulu, Guest Link, Navy

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5JC

One step closer to playing Missile Command with the NORKs.

5th/77th FA

This is for sure a time when we can all say “Go Navy”…”Go Navy”…”Go Navy!”

Who among us doesn’t think that these defensive systems will be needed….eventually if not sooner?

Too bad the potential “Peace Dividend” from bringing the troops home will be turned over to either foreign or domestic enemies to be used to further attack us.

SFC D

Ronald Reagan approves this message.

Green Thumb

Funny.

26Limabeans

As I recall, the AEGIS system did that from a ship off the coast of Japan
about ten years ago. And it was also a SM-3.
Perhaps not space based back then but still impressive for ancient times.

STGCS SW/AW Retired

USS Shiloh CG-67 launched the first SM2 Block III into outer atmosphere in 1999 – I used to have a color glossy photo of the launch – We all got one. They wanted us as the test platform but went with another cruiser in Hawaii since Pac Fleet didn’t want the super ship out of rotation

Green Thumb

I wonder if it was the extra-large ICBM?

Sparks

Ah, give it two months into Biden’s term and it will be gone in favor of more HUD housing.

UpNorth

GMTA, and you beat me to it. I’m thinking that Joe and the Ho will spend the money on training more election workers, ensuring the dems win forever.