ABMD Flight Test Mission 04-2 executed the most operationally realistic and challenging mission scenario to date, testing the Aegis BMD weapon system capability of the SM-3 and the Kinetic Warhead (KW) against a separating target. The test also validated ABMD end-to-end simulations and will advance the tactical systems' engineering development effort.

A medium-range target missile was detected and tracked by the Aegis BMD cruiser which launched the SM-3 for an exoatmospheric engagement. The SM-3 Kinetic Warhead successfully acquired the payload and computed an accurate guidance and control intercept trajectory for the hit-to-kill intercept.

This marks the program's first successful intercept of a separating target's re-entry vehicle. The medium-range ballistic missile target was launched from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii.

"This lethal intercept of a separating target by the Aegis BMD/SM-3 system is further confirmation that this system is fully capable of its mission to defend our warfighters and allies overseas against missile attacks," said Debra Rub-Zenko, vice president, Integrated Missile Defense Systems, for Boeing in Anaheim.

Boeing has been partnered with Raytheon on the SM-3 development since 1996, and is under subcontract to integrate and test the KW hardware. Boeing is responsible for the KW avionics, guidance and control hardware, software and the ejection subsystem. In addition to SM-3 round integration, Raytheon provides the KW infrared seeker, signal and image processor and the integrated KW software.

In addition to its work on the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program, Boeing holds key roles in each element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System architecture, including development and production of the seeker for Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3). Boeing also leads the systems engineering and integration effort on the Missile Defense National Team.

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