Date posted: 07/30/2009*
Raytheon Standard Missile-3 Achieves 15th Hit-to-kill Intercept in Space
File Photo
A Raytheon-built Standard Missile-3 destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target in space July 30. The test marked the 15th successful hit-to-kill intercept for SM-3 and the 19th overall successful missile intercept of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program.
“SM-3 is a mature and proven solution for defeating threat ballistic missiles,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “This intercept proved once again that SM-3 is the right choice for protecting the U.S. and its allies against the growing ballistic missile threat.”
The target ballistic missile was launched from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range on Kauai, Hawaii, while the crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG-70) fired the SM-3.