Tag Archives: ballistic missile defense

MDA, NORTHCOM Heads Warn Funding Lapses Could Leave Missile Defense Gaps  

MDA, NORTHCOM Heads Warn Funding Lapses Could Leave Missile Defense Gaps  

A target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii during Flight Test Standard Missile-45. The USS JOHN FINN (DDG-113) detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar using the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 weapon system. Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the ship launched an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target. Missile Defense Agency photo

This post has been updated to clarify comments from Gen. Glen VanHerck in Wednesday’s hearing.

The head of the Missile Defense Agency warned the House that a continuing resolution will leave gaps in testing and work on test ranges will “come to an all-stop” until the president signs a new budget into law, MDA director Vice Adm. Jon Hill said on Tuesday. Read More

MDA: U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now at Risk from Hypersonic Missiles

MDA: U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now at Risk from Hypersonic Missiles

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) sails behind the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), March 3, 2021. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to correct the spelling of the first name of the director of the Missile Defense Agency, Vice Adm. Jon Hill.

U.S. aircraft carriers are already facing risks from hypersonic weapons that are now entering the inventory of American adversaries and the Navy has developed early defenses for the threat, the head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said last week before the Senate. Read More

VIDEO: MDA, Navy Down ICBM with Destroyer-Launched Missile Interceptor

VIDEO: MDA, Navy Down ICBM with Destroyer-Launched Missile Interceptor

A SM-3 Block IIA is launched from the USS John Finn, an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System-equipped destroyer, Nov. 16, 2020, as part of Flight Test Aegis Weapons System-44 (FTM-44). MDA Photo

The Navy and the Missile Defense Agency proved that an Aegis ballistic missile defense ship could effectively take down an intercontinental ballistic missile and serve as a backup to a ground-based homeland defense interceptor, the MDA announced on Tuesday. Read More

MDA Head: Homeland Missile Defense Effort Needs Enhanced Network

MDA Head: Homeland Missile Defense Effort Needs Enhanced Network

A SM-6 Dual I fired from USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) during a Dec. 14, 2016 MDA BMD test. MDA Photo

To get to a layered, in-depth homeland missile defense system developing key networking and communications links between ballistic missile defense ships and at-shore installations is crucial, the head of the Missile Defense Agency said this week. Read More

MDA to Use Destroyer USS John Finn for Defense-of-Hawaii Missile Intercept Test

MDA to Use Destroyer USS John Finn for Defense-of-Hawaii Missile Intercept Test

A target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii during Flight Test Standard Missile-45. USS John Finn (DDG-113) detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar using the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 weapon system. Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the ship launched an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target. Missile Defense Agency Photo

This post has been updated to correct the home port of USS John Finn. It is based in San Diego, Calif.

The Missile Defense Agency is nearing its planned defense-of-Hawaii test event with an Arleigh Burke destroyer and a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA, to prove the ship can serve as a back-up to ground-based homeland defense systems if needed. Read More