Missile Defense Agency

Elements

Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense

Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) is the sea-based component of the Missile Defense Agency’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Aegis BMD builds upon the Aegis Weapon System, Standard Missile, Navy and joint forces’ Command, Control and Communication systems. The Navy embraces BMD as a core mission. In recognition of its scalability, Aegis BMD/SM-3 system is a keystone in the “phased, adaptive approach” for missile defense in Europe. The Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force formally found Aegis BMD to be operationally effective and suitable.

Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

Ballistic Missile Defense Engagement Capability

• Defeats short to intermediate range, unitary and separating, midcourse phase, ballistic missile threats with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), as well as short range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase with the
  SM-2.   
• Flight tests are conducted using operational warships, operated by fleet Sailors and Officers.  Each test progressively increases the operational realism and complexity of targets and scenarios and is witnessed by Navy and Defense Department testing evaluators. To date, there have been 20 successful intercepts in 24 Missile Defense Agency/Navy tests and Navy operational firings. This includes SM-3 and SM-2 firings and the satellite shootdown of February 2008.

Ballistic Missile Defense Long Range Surveillance and Track (LRS&T)

• Aegis BMD ships on Ballistic Missile Defense patrol detect and track ballistic missiles of all ranges – including Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and report track data to the missile defense system. This capability shares tracking data to cue other missile defense sensors and provides data to aim and fire Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors located at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and other elements of the BMDS including land-based firing units (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, Patriot) and other Navy BMD ships.

Deployment

• By Spring 2010 there will be 21 Aegis BMD combatants (5 cruisers [CGs] and 16 destroyers [DDGs]) in the U.S. Navy. Of the 21 ships, 16 are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and 5 to the Atlantic Fleet. The Secretary of Defense announced earlier this year that 6 more DDGs would be equipped to bring the total of ships to 27 around 2012/13. These additional six DDGs will be from Fleet Forces in the Atlantic.

International Efforts

• Foreign military sales cases have been implemented to upgrade Japan’s four KONGO Class Destroyers to Aegis BMD operational capability. To date, three of four installations have been completed.
• SM-3 Cooperative Development Program is the joint U.S.-Japan development of a 21 inch diameter variant of the SM-3 missile, designated SM-3 Block IIA, to defeat longer range ballistic missiles. Flight testing begins in 2014.

  

Future Capabilities

• Improved discrimination and firepower
• Potentially expanding Aegis BMD capability to entire Aegis Fleet
• Engagement of longer range ballistic missiles
• Improving existing early intercept capability
• Enhanced terminal capability against short and medium range ballistic missiles
• Aegis BMD Ashore
  

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