Northrop Grumman’s Ballistic Missile Target Successfully Launched for Aegis Weapon System Test

CHANDLER, Ariz., March 29. Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully launched a ballistic missile target vehicle to support the Missile Defense Agency’s Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 32 (FTM-32), in cooperation with the US Navy.

• Northrop Grumman launched the Medium-Range Ballistic Missile Type 3 Configuration 2 (MRBM T3c2) Target Vehicle, a threat-representative two-stage, solid rocket-fueled ballistic missile, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai in Hawaii.
• The successful test demonstrated the capability of a ballistic missile defense-configured Aegis ship to detect, track, engage and intercept an advanced MRBM in the terminal phase of flight, utilizing the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II missile.
• Northrop Grumman developed and produced three MRBM T3c2s as intercept test targets for the Aegis SM-6 and has delivered and successfully launched all three target vehicles.

Expert:

Robin Heard, Director of targets, Northrop Grumman: “This program capitalizes on our proven history of innovative rocket designs, executed with speed and discipline. We continue to invest in technology that delivers these vital capabilities our customers need to respond to growing threats. T3c2 is a highly complex target providing the realistic scenario needed to test and verify the Aegis Weapon System.”

Details:

Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of threat representative target vehicles used in the test and verification of the nation’s missile defense systems.

Built on over 60 years of mission-proven missile defense experience, Northrop Grumman provides full scope missile defense capabilities to include missile interceptors and test targets, coupled with secure communications, missile warning and advanced space domain awareness.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.