AST Digital Magazine February 2017 AST Digital Magaiinse Volume 10 | Page 27

Volume 10
Feb 2017 Edition
John Paul Jones detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN / SPY-1D ( V ) radar using the Aegis Baseline 9 . C2 weapon system .
Upon acquiring and tracking the target , the ship launched an
SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target .
MDA Director Vice Adm . James Syring
( Image Credit : Leah Garton , DVIDS )
The SM-3 Block IIA is being developed cooperatively by the United States and Japan to defeat medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles . The SM-3 Block IIA interceptor operates as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system and can be launched from Aegis-equipped ships or Aegis Ashore sites .
“ Today ’ s test demonstrates a critical milestone in the cooperative development of the SM-3 Block IIA missile ,” said MDA Director Vice Adm . Jim Syring .
“ The missile , developed jointly by a Japanese and U . S . government and industry team , is vitally important to both our nations and will ultimately improve our ability to defend against increasing ballistic missile threats around the world .”
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