The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted the first flight test of the Raytheon Company Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.
The interceptor’s bigger rocket motors and more capable kill vehicle will engage threats sooner and protect larger regions from short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
The mission, Control Test Vehicle-01, evaluated the SM-3 Block IIA’s nosecone performance, steering control section function, booster separation, and second and third stage rocket motor separation.
During the test, a SM-3 Block IIA was launched from a MK 41 launcher located at the U.S. Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range on Saint Nicolas Island in California. A target intercept was not included in the testing scenario.
Image: Raytheon