The ground testing is a step toward fully qualifying the advanced SDACS design for fleet deployment as part of sea-based missile defense.

The advanced SDACS design adds two individual burns to the current design's solid propellant sustain burn function for additional KW thrust and hit-to-kill maneuvering capacity.

The Design Verification Test - pulse 1 was conducted in a vacuum chamber test facility at Elkton, Md. The test included a full pulse burn to simulate the KW's approach and intercept of an enemy ballistic missile. Preliminary data indicates that all test objectives were achieved.

"This test was a major milestone on our path to providing full capability to the warfighter," said Ed Miyashiro, Raytheon vice president for Naval Weapon Systems. "It also confirms our deliberate spiral development and test philosophy to guarantee our customer 'no doubt' Mission Assurance."

"Once fully qualified, the pulsed SDACS developed by Raytheon and ATK will provide the U.S. Navy with the most advanced, forward-deployed missile intercept capability in the world," said Bart Olson, vice president and general manager, ATK Propulsion and Controls. "We look forward to completing the remaining tests so that we can bring this exciting new capability to the fleet as soon as possible."

Raytheon Company is the prime contractor for the SM-3. Boeing, Aerojet and ATK are the primary subcontractors on the program.

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