BARKING SANDS — The western Kaua‘i sky was lit up Thursday night, as the United States military executed a successful missile defense test out of the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
BARKING SANDS — The western Kaua‘i sky was lit up Thursday night, as the United States military executed a successful missile defense test out of the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
The test demonstrated the capability of a ballistic missile defense-configured Aegis ship to detect, track, engage, and intercept a medium range ballistic missile target in the terminal phase of flight.
Military personnel shot a target missile from the PMRF facility, which was then intercepted over the ocean by two more missiles deployed from the deck of USS Daniel Inouye.
“This was an incredible accomplishment and key milestone for the Sea-based defense program,” said United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Admiral Jon Hill.
“This test proved our capabilities in an operationally realistic scenario, which is a critical step in increasing capability to outpace emerging threats. My congratulations to the entire test team, including our sailors and our industry partners, who helped us to achieve this milestone.”
A video provided by the Missile Defense Agency shows a massive flash of light as the target is launched from PMRF. In a second video, a fiery projectile shoots skyward from deck of the ship.
This was the third successful flight test of an Aegis ballistic missile defense-equipped vessel using the Standard Missile–6 Dual II with a recent software upgrade, and the first Aegis Baseline intercept of an medium range ballistic missile target using the this type of missile.
The test highlights adjustments made after a May 2021 test that did not meet all its objectives, the Missile Defense Agency said in a press release.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
