Posted on 04/25/2007 3:11:55 PM PDT by nypokerface
LIHUE, Hawaii, April 25 (UPI) -- The USS Lake Erie is set to attempt an ambitious anti-ballistic missile test against two simultaneous targets Thursday. The exercise will be a delayed test of the U.S. Navy's Aegis ABM system, the Honolulu Advertiser reported Wednesday.
"A similar test was aborted in December because of an incorrect setting in the Aegis missile system aboard the cruiser Lake Erie. This is the 10th intercept attempt. Of the previous nine, seven resulted in successful intercepts," the newspaper said.
In one of the tests, the interceptor will be fired from the warship at a simulated short-range ballistic missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range on Kauai. The second target missile will be an anti-aircraft missile air-launched and aimed at the Lake Erie, the newspaper said.
"The Lake Erie, with the help of satellite tracking, will identify the two threats at the same time, and launch separate missiles against them. It is slated to launch a Standard Missile-3 against the ballistic missile target, and the goal is for the SM-3 interceptor to actually crash into the target missile," the report said. "The Lake Erie is set to launch a Standard Missile-2 against the anti-aircraft rocket. In a combat situation, the SM-2 warhead would explode alongside the incoming rocket to destroy it, but it will not be rigged to explode during this test," it said.
"The firing scenario is designed such that both targets are engaged at about the same time, intentionally stressing the crew and combat system resources," the MDA said in a statement.
The Navy's Aegis program has logged an impressive record of successful tests. Thursday's is expected to break new ground.
We’re making huge strides in missile defense in record time. Reagan is smiling.
And Tom Clancy.
you have to wonder which came first, Bear and the Dragon, or the Navy’s Aegis ABM program...
Huh?
Well, they said they wanted to increase the stress level on board.
I'm surprised to read such a positive comment in a MSM article.
Typically they just slam anything connected with the U.S. military.
The editor screwed up this time!
Aimed at the USS Lake Erie, CG-70, I believe.
Don't worry...it's just a drone, designed to simulate a guided missile.
“you have to wonder which came first, Bear and the Dragon, or the Navy’s Aegis ABM program...”
VADM J. D. Williams USN
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