Kacey Roberts
The U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the multiple target detection feature of a Lockheed Martin-built Aegis Weapon System installed on the destroyer USS Carl Levin during an integrated air and missile defense test.
The joint test, called Vigilant Wyvern, saw the Aegis Weapon System-48 engage anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missile defense targets in a realistic IAMD scenario in the Pacific Missile Test Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, Lockheed said Thursday.
Lockheed noted that FTM-48 was equipped with an updated 9.C2 baseline and BMD 5.1 capability, enabling the Aegis system to evenly allocate radar resources.
According to a statement from the Navy, the Aegis-equipped ship intercepted two short-range ballistic missile targets while simultaneously demonstrating its anti-air warfare capabilities by thwarting two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets.
Douglas Williams, acting director of MDA, commented, “The success of this joint test represents a critical step in defending against multiple targets in a realistic raid scenario.”
Lockheed said it will further modernize the Aegis system by integrating advanced radar capabilities.
