02.11.2010
Text:
Photo: Launch of
Standard Missile-3 Block IA.
Ballistic target was intercepted at the altitude of 100 km over Pacific Ocean. The missile was launched by destroyer stationed near Kauai Island, Hawaii. "This successful flight test adds to
SM-3's long and impressive list of hit-to-kill intercepts. Japan now has a fourth destroyer fully qualified to employ
SM-3 against threat ballistic missiles", said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of
Raytheon Missile Systems.
Interceptor missiles
SM-3 are used in shipborne missile system
AEGIS. There are over 100
SM-3 interceptors presently deployed on board American and Japanese destroyers; they are capable to intercept short- and middle-range ballistic missiles at boost and midcourse phases.
SM-3 Block IA was commissioned in 2006. This is the third variant of
SM-3 interceptor. In 2008 such missile destroyed a satellite on orbit.
Interceptor missile
SM-3 Block I? will be more effective if reliability of
SM-3 Block IA is preserved. Presently, US Missile Defense Agency and Japanese company
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries work on new generation interceptor missile
SM-3 Block IIA which has longer flight range and equipped with heavier kinetic interceptor to neutralize more sophisticated threats.
