PORT HUENEME, Calif. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) personnel oversaw several critical steps leading to and during the Missile Defense Agency (MDA)’s and Navy’s recent milestone success using a standard missile to destroy a mock Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
On Nov. 16, the MDA and Navy sailors aboard USS John Finn (DDG 113), an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System-equipped destroyer, fired a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA guided missile that successfully intercepted and eliminated a fake ICBM during a flight test demonstration in the broad ocean area northeast of Hawaii.
FTM-44, also known as Stellar Lancer, satisfies a congressional mandate to evaluate before the end of 2020 whether an SM-3 Block IIA missile could defeat an ICBM threat.
"This was an incredible accomplishment and critical milestone for the Aegis BMD SM-3 Block IIA program," said MDA Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill in an MDA-released statement. “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.”
The Aegis BMD Weapon System is the naval component of the U.S. Missile Defense System. The MDA and the U.S. Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD system.
During the test, USS John Finn received tracking data remotely through the Command and Control Battle Management Communications (C2BMC) network and launched the guided missile that destroyed the target, according to the MDA. Aegis BMD ships (and Aegis Ashore) receive track data via the C2BMC system, build the fire control solutions, then launch and guide missiles. The test is part of MDA’s mission to build a layered Missile Defense System.
NSWC PHD personnel supported the complex at-sea test while aboard the John Finn and from various shore-based command and control locations around the Pacific region, said Kevin Pollock, NSWC PHD’s BMD project manager.
“We are just extremely proud of the entire team that successfully executed this complex test,” Pollock said.
The FTM-44 Navy Test Officer led overall planning and execution of all mission work-ups, pre-tests and Navy test objectives from the BMD System Test Bed at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego, Pollock explained.
Additionally, he said, a shipboard project officer and shipboard project engineer directed a large industry/government test team and assisted John Finn personnel through executing an extensive pre-mission shipboard readiness assessment, weapons system integration testing and the shipboard missile firing. Various in-service engineering agent engineers/technicians served on the test team aboard John Finn and helped ensure all aspects of the ship’s Aegis Weapon System were ready to execute the developmental test.
The FTM-44 Joint Interface Control Officer oversaw the setup and operations of the complex interoperability architecture that connected John Finn with the Missile Defense System through the C2BMC network via Link-16, Pollock said.
Finally, he added, a project officer led preparations and the execution of AN/SPY-6(V) test objectives from the Advanced Radar Detection Laboratory at the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands in Kekaha, Hawaii.
Prior to the test event, NSWC PHD engineers and technicians helped transport the SM-3 Block IIA missiles from Huntsville, Alabama to the ship in San Diego, and assisted John Finn personnel in loading the two missiles into the ship’s Vertical Launching System, Pollock explained.
“Just getting all participants ready to carry out the first of its kind test objectives would have been challenging in itself,” he said. “Add in the COVID-19 restrictions the team had to navigate through, and it just added another really difficult layer to an already complicated Test & Evaluation mission. But throughout all the work-ups and mission week, across the board, our team showed an impressive level of professionalism and an amazing work ethic focused squarely on helping ensure John Finn and her crew would be successful during this unprecedented test. We are proud of everyone involved in helping the Navy and MDA make history.”
Going forward, the MDA said program officials will continue assessing how the system performed based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.
"The department is investigating the possibility of augmenting the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system by fielding additional sensors and weapon systems to hedge against unexpected developments in the missile threat,” Hill said.
NSWC PHD Commanding Officer Capt. Andrew Hoffman, whose history with NSWC PHD as an engineer included supporting the Aegis Weapon System, said the PHD’s personnel went above and beyond the command’s typical mission support to ensure FTM-44’s success.
“This mission demonstrates the Aegis system’s capability to step up when needed to support the Navy’s and nation’s expanding strategy to defend our citizens and our allies in the Great Power Competition,” Hoffman said. “Our amazing PHD team understands well the technical rigor and excellence required to keep us mission ready, and their performance knocked it out of the park on this one.”
Paul Mann, NSWC PHD’s technical director, who also has a background with the Aegis system, noted the complexity of the test event.
“Our Missile Defense Agency, Navy and nation invited our command to collaborate across organizational lines, step up and deliver results with relevant expertise during a challenging time throughout the world,” Mann said. “I am especially grateful we exemplified the values and cornerstones established by Rear Adm. Wayne Meyer, Father of the Aegis system. We ain’t done yet. The ultimate team sport continues full speed ahead.”