After passing a short-range ballistic missile test in March this year, the U.S. Navy’s AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) was now tested against a medium-range ballistic missile target that was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii.
In the test that took place July 27, AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR searched for, detected and maintained track on the target throughout its trajectory.
The flight test, designated Vigilant Titan, is the second in a series of ballistic missile defense flight tests for the AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR.
“We are continuing to stress this radar by increasing the range and complexity of the targets and demonstrating the awesome capability and versatility of the navy’s next generation Integrated Air and Missile Defense radar.” said Navy Capt. Seiko Okano, major program manager for Above Water Sensors, Program Executive Office (PEO) Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS). “AN/SPY-6 is the nation’s most advanced radar and will be the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatants for many decades.”
The navy says that, based on preliminary data, the test successfully met its primary objectives against a complex medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) target. Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.
The AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR is being designed for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyer to provide the U.S. Navy with the necessary technology for Integrated Air and Missile Defense.