Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
July 4, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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Home :: Missile Defense Systems
Aegis Ship-Based BMD
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| Basing: | Sea |
Details
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD) will provide an efficient and highly mobile sea-based defense against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in their midcourse phase.
The system will integrate the U.S. Navy’s existing fleet of Aegis cruisers (Ticonderoga class) and Aegis destroyers (Arleigh Burke class) with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor currently under development. The system will allow the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to move its defense capabilities close to enemy launch sites, thus providing a critical “layer” to the broader Ballistic Missile Defense System.
At present, each Aegis cruiser and destroyer is outfitted with the Aegis Weapon System—the heart of which is the AN/SPY-1 radar system. AN/SPY-1 sends out beams of electromagnetic energy in all directions, thus allowing Aegis ships to track up to 100 targets simultaneously, while still retaining the ability to counter other air, surface, and submarine threats. AN/SPY-1 will be able to detect ballistic missiles as they rise above the horizon.
Once a hostile missile has been detected, Aegis BMD will launch its Standard Missile-3 interceptor from its MK41 Vertical Launching System (currently deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers). An evolution of the SM-2 Block IV interceptor, the SM-3 is a hit-to-kill missile comprised of a three-stage booster with a kill vehicle. As the SM-3 burns through its three stages, its GPS-Aided Inertial Navigation System will set it on an intercept trajectory with the hostile missile. SM-3 will also receive target updates from the Aegis destroyer.
Once close enough to the ballistic missile, the SM-3 will fire its kill vehicle, the Kinetic Warhead (KW), from its nosecone. The KW will immediately begin to search for its target. It will acquire the ballistic missile using a high-resolution seeker, and maintain an accurate trajectory using its internal navigational system. As it closes on its target, the KW will identify the missile’s payload, and shift its aimpoint to ensure a lethal hit. When the KW finally slams into the enemy warhead, the kinetic energy of the high velocity impact will ensure complete destruction of the threat.
Since 1999, MDA has conducted five SM-3 flight tests. Four have been successful. The most recent test was on December 11, 2003, when a SM-3 from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie tracked, targeted, and destroyed a short-range target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. Impact occurred at an altitude of 137 kilometers and a closing speed of approximately 3.7 kilometers per second. The entire operation, from detection to destruction, took four minutes.
President George W. Bush recently called on MDA to deploy a preliminary defense shield—including sea-based assets. In September 2004, the Navy will deploy an Aegis destroyer in the Sea of Japan capable of detecting and tracking missile launches from North Korea and China. In the event of a hostile launch, the destroyer will be able to transmit data to ten ground-based interceptors located in Fort Greely in Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California (also scheduled for deployment in September 2004).
In 2005, the first fully operational Aegis BMD system will be deployed on an Aegis destroyer. MDA will conduct rigorous tests, using this initial deployment to integrate the AN/SPY-1 with SM-3 and improve the accuracy of the interceptor. In 2006, the Navy will deploy nine Aegis ships outfitted with SM-3 missiles and configured to carry out ballistic missile defense operations from almost anywhere in the world.
During this initial deployment phase, Aegis BMD will provide a cost effective means of countering emerging threats from rogue nations and terrorists. The United States has already invested $50 billion in its cruisers and destroyers alone, and the additional cost of outfitting these ships with SM-3s is relatively small compared with that of developing new air-based, land-based, and space-based systems. Although the Navy will eventually need more ships over time to handle its regular duties, in the interim Aegis BMD will serve as an excellent stopgap measure.
MDA’s long-term goal is to transform Aegis BMD into a comprehensive missile defense system capable of destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), possibly in their boost phase. As MDA improves its layered missile defense system, Aegis BMD will be able to integrate its tracking system with other new BMD tracking systems such as Space Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High) satellites, the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS), or the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). Although many consider the SM-3 too slow to intercept ICBMs, some believe that these enhanced detection and tracking capabilities will allow Aegis BMD to launch its interceptors earlier, thus allowing the SM-3s to reach long-range targets.
MDA and the Navy are also considering the development of a larger and faster interceptor missile.
Sources
Arms Control Association.
England, Gordon R. Remarks at the National Missile Defense Conference. Ronald Reagan Center, Washington, D.C., 22 March 2004.
Erwin, Sandra I. “Navy Prepares to Put Aegis Ships ‘On Alert.’” National Defense Magazine, March 2004.
GlobalSecurity.org.
Missile Defense Agency.
Raytheon Company.
Selinger, Marc. “Aegis on Tract for 2004 Missile Defense, Company Says.” Aerospace Daily, 13 January 2004.
U.S. Department of Defense. “Aegis Miss Test Successful.” Press Release 938-03, 11 December 2003.
Capabilities of Japanese Ship-Based Defenses
The U.S. and Japan are moving forward on the joint Aegis ship-based missile defense program, reports Defense Daily. The Missile Defense Agency plans to conduct a test of the Standard Missile-3 in March 2006, which could accelerate development of the missile. The SM-3, the interceptor for the ship-based Aegis defense system, features a two-color seeker, advanced signal processing, and a new divert and attitude control system. As noted by Rear Admiral Brad Hicks, commander and program director, the SM-3 will significantly increase the area a ship can defend and increase the kill probability against a larger threat. At present, Japan has committed to deploy SM-3 interceptors on one destroyer and three other ships.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan To Cover One Third of Cost
Japan will shoulder between one third and one half of the cost of building a joint missile defense shield with the U.S. According to officials inside Japan’s Defense Agency, Tokyo and Washington are still negotiating exactly how much each country will cover, although Japan expects to shoulder at least $1 billion of the estimated $3 billion total cost. A central element of the joint missile defense shield is the sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptor, which will be deployed on Aegis destroyers to defend Japan from ballistic missile attack.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Aegis Test Successful: Marks First Attempt Against More Advanced Separating Target
The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy today successfully conducted a significant test of the Aegis missile defense system. The test involved for the first time a “separating” target, meaning that the target warhead separated from its booster. Previous tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets representative of “SCUD”-type ballistic missiles. A separating missile requires the system to discriminate between targets, as well as presenting a smaller and faster target. “This test is very important and I’ll go as far as to say historical,” said Rear Adm. Kathleen K. Paige, program director of the sea-based missile defense project. “It verifies ballistic missile defense is real, that it is available today operationally at sea.” The Associated Press notes that senior representatives from the navies of Australia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain watched the test with Paige on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
As reported by the MDA press release, a medium-range separating target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The USS Lake Erie, outfitted with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 3.0 Weapon System, detected and tracked the target. The USS Lake Erie launched the SM-3 interceptor some four minutes later. Six minutes after launch the interceptor successfully destroyed the target warhead more than 100 miles in space above the Pacific Ocean and 375 miles northwest of Kauai.
The test, designated as Flight Test Maritime 04-2 (FTM 04-2), was the seventh such test of the Aegis ship-based system, six of which have now been successful. The MDA reportedly plans three more sea-based tests next year.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan to Design Interceptor Nose Cone
Demonstrating both cooperation with the U.S. and ambitions to pursue missile defenses of its own, Japan will partner with the U.S. to design a nose cone for a ballistic missile interceptor, Kyodo reports, citing close sources. The interceptor at issue is an upgraded version of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) which is part of the Aegis sea-based defense system, in which Japan and other countries are quite interested. An agreement between the two countries specifying the cooperation is said to be expected soon, possibly by the end of the year. The Japanese technology would subsequently be tested by the U.S. in a joint flight test from Hawaii.
» August 25, 2005: Japan Times: Japan expected to produce four components for new SM-3
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
MDA Tests Forward-Based X-Band Radar in Conjunction with Air Force
The Missile Defense Agency today issued a press release on a successful launch and tracking exercise which took place on September 14. The test involved the operational test of a U.S. Air Force strategic missile from Vandenberg AFB, California, to serve as a “target of opportunity.” The primary tracking objective was to be done by the Forward-Based X-Band Transportable Radar, which is transportable and can moved by aircraft anywhere in the world. The test was called “Glory Trip 189.”
The radar acquired, tracked, and collected data on the target vehicle from acquisition of signal until approximately 500 seconds into the flight. The radar transmitted reports of the missile’s flight track to the Ballistic Missile Defense System’s (BMDS) Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system. Similarly a U.S. Navy Aegis ballistic missile defense ship also tracked the target vehicle and relayed tracking data to the command and control system, using operational communication links. Other MDA elements that participated in the test included the Airborne Infrared System, Project Hercules (improved missile detection and tracking research), and External Sensors Lab.
The missile tracked is not named in the MDA press release, but it may well have been the Minuteman III missile tested on September 14 from Vandenberg.
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan Approves Bill Authorizing Missile Intercept
Japan’s parliament has passed a major piece of legislation giving authority to its defense chief to shoot down incoming missiles. The bill allows the defense chief to act without additional approval of Japan’s prime minister or Cabinet. The bill is significant because Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution renounces the use of force to settle international disputes, which has been interpreted to preclude defensive action against missiles which may or may not be aimed at Japan. In recent years Japan has become increasingly concerned with the ballistic missile threat from North Korea and, along with the U.S., is currently researching a joint sea-based missile defense system. The bill passed both the upper and lower houses, meaning that the legislation will be enacted.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Possible Spread of Defensive Interceptors by Japan
Japanese-U.S. SM-3 sea-based interceptor missiles could be offered to third countries, reports the Japanese news agency Kyodo. According to General Yoshinori Ono, director of Japan’s Defense Agency, “If there is a request from the United States, it could be possible for those missiles to be provided to third countries under certain circumstances.” Ono’s statement follows Japan’s decision last year to end its decades-old ban on weapons exports. In December 2004, Japan stated that it could export missile parts to the U.S. under “strict controls” for national security, with exports to third countries to be considered on a case-to-case basis.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
U.S. Asks Japan for $545 Million
The U.S. has asked Japan to contribute $545 million to the joint Aegis sea-based missile defense system, reports the AFP. The U.S. intends to contribute an equal amount to the project. Some reports indicate, however, that Tokyo finds this sum too high and plans to ask for a reduction in cost. The AFP notes that Japan is attempting to cut its defense spending amid mixed signals on the direction of its economy.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan Ready to Move Ahead with Missile Defense
The Washington Times quotes Yoshinori Ono, chief of Japan’s Defense Agency, as saying that the joint Japanese-U.S. sea-based missile defense program will soon enter the development stage. The program includes the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor, which will be deployed on Aegis-equipped destroyers and cruisers. The two nations launched the project in 1999 after North Korea tested its long-range Taep’o-dong 1 ballistic missile, which flew over Japan and landed into the Pacific Ocean. The article notes that actual production of the SM-3 is scheduled to begin around 2011.
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
U.S. to Sell Japan SM-2 Interceptors
The Pentagon plans to sell 40 Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) surface-to-air missiles to Japan, reports Reuters. Japan has requested the interceptors for its Maritime Self Defense Force fleet, in order to bolster its defense of critical sea-lanes. According to the Pentagon, “It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Japan to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability, which will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area.”
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
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