The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in partnership with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), successfully conducted the first live target tracking exercise using the SPY-7 radar during Japan Flight Test Experiment Aegis Weapon System (JFTX)-01, which took place March 17 and 19 off the East Coast of the United States.

JFTX-01 is a critical milestone supporting the integration of Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) Shipset 1.

The developmental test included two separate events, with a live target being launched for each tracking event. The SPY-7 radar, integrated with the Aegis Weapon System, tracked the targets, ending with virtual target engagements. Together the two test events provided different data collection sets as part of ASEV’s integration testing.

“JFTX-01 is a significant milestone in the longstanding cooperation between Japan and the U.S., and in the combined development and integration efforts for the ASEV program,” said Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, MDA director. “Once complete, ASEV will provide Japan with the latest Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities and significantly bolster their defense against regional missile threats.”

MDA led test efforts for JFTX-01, which provided Japan crucial data on the search, detection, identification, tracking and target engagement capabilities of their current Aegis baseline and the SPY-7. JFTX-01 served as a key risk reduction event. Following completion of the integration testing, to include JFTX-01, ASEV Shipset 1 equipment will be delivered to Japan.

The SPY-7 radar uses scaled equipment and software derived from the MDA’s advanced Long Range Discrimination Radar located in Clear, Alaska. ASEV is a Foreign Military Sales case with Japan.

Please direct all media related queries to mda.press-operations@mail.mil.

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