Posted on 06/29/2014 9:19:27 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
During the underway period, John Paul Jones also conducted its first ballistic missile tracking exercise while simultaneously tracking two supersonic and two subsonic missile targets. This event fully demonstrated the capabilities of Aegis Baseline 9C and of John Paul Jones as the first Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) destroyer
Over the course of three days June 18-20, the crew of Guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) successfully engaged six targets off the coast of Southern California, firing a total of five missiles that included four Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) missiles and one Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) missile. One of these exercises, designated as NIFC-CA AS-02A, resulted in the longest surface-to-air engagement in naval history.
During the underway period, John Paul Jones also conducted its first ballistic missile tracking exercise while simultaneously tracking two supersonic and two subsonic missile targets. This event fully demonstrated the capabilities of Aegis Baseline 9C and of John Paul Jones as the first Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) destroyer.
DDG 53 is now ready to assume the role as the Navy’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense test ship, following a change of homeport to Pearl Harbor later this summer
The live-fire tests was part of the Baseline 9C Aegis Combat System during Combat Systems Ship’s Qualification Trials (CSSQT) and Naval Integrated Fire Control Counter Air (NIFC-CA) capability, preparing the missile destroyer for its new role as missile defense test ship.
Since 2012 the vessel went through combat systems modernization the BAE ship repair facility in San Diego, as part of the destroyer modernization program. Over the course of a year, John Paul Jones received new computing infrastructure, SPY-1D transmitter upgrades, and a multi-mission signal processor which comprises the Aegis Baseline 9C suite.
According to Cmdr. Andrew Thomson, the ship’s commanding officer, USS John Paul Jones is now ready to assume the role as the Navy’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense test ship, following a change of homeport to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii later this summer. In the coming years, John Paul Jones is expected to test newer and more advanced systems that will be used to defend the nation and U.S. and allied forces overseas.
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) launches a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) during a live-fire test of the ship’s aegis weapons system. Over the course of three days, the crew of John Paul Jones successfully engaged six targets, firing a total of five missiles that included four SM-6 models and one Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) model. Photo: US Navy
Wow! But then, in my days, we could lock on seagulls.
Five missiles for six targets is quite impressive.
SM-6 testing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KTxWoPTXRY
Aegis Ballistic Missile SM 3 (star wars) Takes Out Another Ballistic Missile Target
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I4uRi2lh9w
Key to Missile Defense: Raytheons Factory of the Future
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldnn3VqbJnw
Could it shoot them down? Tracking is different than locking on them and killing them. An old firecontrol technican sends.
Crap... Was this successful? If it was, it will be cut within a year.
It says they “successfully engaged six targets” and I’m pretty sure weddings were not in the mix, but these days you never know!
The Chinese will be selling them on a street corner in about 3 weeks.
What's a supersonic missile target? How does it differ from a supersonic missile? Was it inbound towards the ship or just flying in the vicinity? Inquiring minds want to know.
Good point.
If Hillary Clinton becomes president you can bet the Chinese will have this technology.
Fairly sure it was flying on offset course or crossing angle.
There have been accidents where drones/targets have hit ships when veering after being hit. This can cause a lot of damage with a subsonic missile, and would be catastrophic with a supersonic one.
As I remember with these sorts of targets, the only time they were programmed to come straight in as in a real attack was toward an unmanned barge with the testing defensive weapon mounted on it. 
Airborne targets are expensive. So are instrumented missiles. Often a test missile will be destroyed some time between A-Pole and endgame. That way the target lives to fight another day.
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