"The target missile was launched today from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. at 9:27 pm PDT March 20. The target was successfully tracked by the Sea-Based X-band (SBX) radar and two Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships using onboard SPY-1 radar," the MDA said.

"A primary focus of this system test was to assess the execution and functionality of various BMDS Engagement Sequence Groups" the agency said.

"An Engagement Sequence Group identifies the combination of weapons and sensors that work together to detect, track and intercept an enemy missile," it said. "During the test, target tracking data from the SBX radar was successfully transmitted to the C2BMC (Command, Control, Battle Management and Communication ) system and the Ground-based Midcourse Defense fire control system at the Joint National Integration Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"While no live interceptor missiles were launched, a weapon task plan (intercept solution) was generated and simulated interceptor missiles were "launched" from Fort Greely, Alaska using performance data from previous interceptor launches. Similarly, Aegis ships tracked the target missile and performed a simulated engagement using a simulated Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor missile," the MDA said.

The MDA said participants in the test "included the Operational Test Agencies, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Strategic Command."

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