19page

7 MISSION The role of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) con- tinues to evolve as the BMDS matures. In 2005 - 2006, we introduced the first engagement capable ships. Presently, there are three Aegis cruisers and seven Aegis destroy- ers equipped with the certified, operational BMD-capable weapon system and armed with SM-3 missiles. These ships are capable of intercepting short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Today another seven destroyers have the Long Range Surveillance and Track (LRST) capability in- stalled. During 2008 these LRST assets, plus one additional Aegis destroyer, will be converted to engagement capable ships. Aegis BMD serves as a forward-deployed sensor by ex- tending the battlespace and providing early warning of an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. This Long Range Surveillance and Track capability assists in the defense of the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, by provid-ing tracking data to cue other system sensors and initiate a Ground-Based Midcourse Defense engagement. This capability is resident on all BMD-equipped Aegis ships. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense PrOGrAM DESCrIPTION Currently, Aegis ships, manned by the U.S. Navy are engaged in a series of intercept flight tests designed to validate the operational effectiveness of the Aegis BMD ca-pability against a progressively more complex set of targets and scenarios. To date, Aegis BMD has achieved 12 suc- cessful intercepts in 14 attempts against short-to-intermedi-ate range, unitary, and separating ballistic missile targets. All 18 Aegis ships will have the engagement capability installed by the end of 2008. In 2009–2010 the Aegis BMD capability will be expanded to cover a different defense segment, the terminal phase, to engage short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. Im- proved midcourse discrimination and firepower will also be developed to defeat sophisticated, longer-range ballistic missiles. The United States and Japan plan to upgrade all four of Japan’s KONGO Class Destroyers to the Aegis BMD Op-erational Combat System. These installations are scheduled for 2007 - 2010. Japan and the United States are jointly engaged in the SM-3 Cooperative Development Program. This program focuses on joint development of a 21 inch diameter SM-3 variant, SM-3 Block IIA, with a unitary kinetic warhead to intercept longer-range ballistic missiles. Additionally, U.S. has initiated a Multiple Kinetic Vehicle (MKV) development program. It is invisioned the MKV may be integrated into the SM-3 missile at a future date, which will be the SM-3 Block IIB variant. CONTrIBUTIONS TO THE BMDS Aegis BMD operates as part of the integrated BMDS supporting or being supported by other elements of the de-ployed BMDS. In the near future, midcourse (Aegis BMD) and terminal missile defense systems (Patriot, THAAD, TPY-2 and Aegis BMD) will coordinate engagements of short and medium range ballistic missiles. Integrated, layered defense will be realized as tracking information is shared among these systems, enabling a midcourse en- gagement opportunity followed by coordinated terminal engagements. Aegis BMD also searches, detects and tracks ballistic mis- siles of all ranges - including ICBMs, and transmits the track data to the BMDS. This tracking data cues other BMDS sensors to acquire the hostile missile, and assist in the fire control solutions of the GMD system. 2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Successfully completed four flight tests, all with Allied participation, demonstrating the Aegis Destroyer BMD engagement capability, simultaneous anti-air warfare and ballistic missile engagements, and multiple, simultaneous ballistic missile engagements • First Japanese Aegis Destroyer upgraded to BMD capability and successfully demonstrated an intercept of a ballistic missile target in December 2007 • Commenced development of near term Sea-Based Ter- minal capability • Continued spiral development of the next Aegis BMD configuration, containing enhanced system discrimina- tion and firepower Majority of work for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is performed in the green colored states.