Second Successful Test Of Missile Intercept Radar
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar built by
Raytheon performed successfully this week, in the latest integrated
flight test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency and THAAD prime
contractor and systems integrator Lockheed Martin.
The endo-atmospheric intercept test, performed at the Pacific
Missile Range Facility in Hawaii March 17, was the second
successful intercept of a separating target. The THAAD radar
successfully acquired the target complex.
"Not only did Raytheon components continue to perform, but the
successful missile salvo acquisition and track represents a
significant milestone," said Pete Franklin, vice president,
National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated
Defense Systems. "The success underscores THAAD's ability to meet
the missile defense mission and provide a reliable and affordable
terminal missile defense capability for our nation."
The radar successfully placed the target complex in track and
discriminated the mock warhead, leading to a successful intercept.
An additional first for the THAAD radar was the successful
acquisition and track of a salvo set of interceptors. The THAAD
radar successfully communicated individual in-flight target updates
for both interceptors to help guide them to the intercept point.
The test demonstrated fully integrated radar, launcher, fire
control, dual missile salvo, and engagement functions of the weapon
system.
Both companies state the THAAD radar, also known as the
AN/TPY-2, achieved all test objectives: acquiring the target
complex through a BMDS cue, discriminating the warhead, providing
track and discrimination data to the fire control and communicating
with both in-flight THAAD interceptors. The AN/TPY-2 is a phased
array, capable of search, threat detection, classification,
discrimination and precision tracking at extremely long ranges.
The fire control software, jointly developed by Raytheon and
THAAD prime contractor and systems integrator Lockheed Martin, also
performed successfully, receiving and processing the BMDS cue,
engaging the target complex and initializing the launch sequence
for both THAAD interceptors.
THAAD is a key element of the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic
Missile Defense System, providing to any combatant commander
deployable ground-based missile defense components that deepen,
extend and complement the system to defeat ballistic missiles of
short-to-medium range. THAAD's combination of high-altitude
capability and hit-to-kill lethality enables it to effectively
negate the effects of weapons of mass destruction over a wide
area.