Date posted: 11/06/2007*

Raytheon Standard Missile-3 achieves dual intercepts in space

In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test, two Raytheon-built Standard Missile-3s, fired from a U.S. Navy ship, simultaneously intercepted and destroyed two short-range ballistic missile targets in space, Nov. 6, 2007.

This was the first time a Navy ship demonstrated simultaneous engagements against ballistic missile targets outside the earth’s atmosphere.  These were the 10th and 11th successful intercepts for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system’s SM-3.

The crew of the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70) fired both SM-3 Block IA intercepting missiles while personnel at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai launched the ballistic missile targets.

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