PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, Hawaii, Sept. 12,
2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force and the United States Missile Defense Agency completed a
successful intercept flight test in cooperation with the U.S. Navy
off the coast of Kauai in
Hawaii. A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) SM-3® Block IB missile
intercepted a ballistic missile target, marking the first time
Japan has tested the sophisticated
interceptor as announced by MDA.
The target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range
Facility in Hawaii, and the
interceptor was launched from the Japanese ship JS Atago (DDG-177),
verifying the newest ballistic missile defense engagement
capability of the upgraded destroyer. The flight test mission is a
significant milestone in missile defense cooperation between
Japan and the U.S. Japan currently employs the SM-3 Block IA
interceptor, but the IB variant's improved two-color seeker and
upgraded throttling divert and attitude control system enables
engagements with a larger set of threats.
"The Standard Missile-3 family consistently demonstrates
capability against sophisticated threats, both on land and at sea,"
said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence,
Raytheon Missile Systems president. "This test underlines the
importance of allied ballistic missile defense interoperability and
the powerful results we generate when we work together with our
allies."
The SM-3 is produced at Raytheon's Space Factory in Tucson, Arizona, and the company's integration
facility in Huntsville, Alabama.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25
billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation
leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity
solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration,
C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and
mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon
is headquartered in Waltham,
Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter.
Media Contacts
Amanda Schildt
+1.571.305.3915
rmspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company