The U.S. military on Tuesday successfully intercepted an air-launched midrange ballistic missile off the coast of Guam in a test flight that officials called a critical step in the defense of the U.S. Pacific territory against potential adversaries like China.
The Aegis air defense system on Guam used a new AN/TPY-6 radar to track the ballistic missile near Andersen Air Force Base. The Vertical Launching System fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA at the incoming target, which had been tracked since shortly after launch. Tuesday’s mission was the first end-to-end tracking by the AN/TPY-6 radar during a live ballistic missile flight test, officials said.
“Today’s flight test is a critical milestone in the defense of Guam and the region,” Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander of Joint Task Force-Micronesia, said in a statement. “It confirmed our ability to detect, track and engage a target missile in flight, increasing our readiness to defend against evolving adversary threats.”
Tuesday’s test launch will provide important information about the overall concept of the project, including validation of requirements and data-gathering for the future Guam Defense System, said officials with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, commander of the MDA, said Tuesday’s successful launch and interception provide a glimpse of how organizations inside the Defense Department can join forces to defend Guam against future attacks.
“We will use this to build upon and validate joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Guam,” Gen. Collins said.
The Guam Defense System is a long-term effort by multiple military services to develop a layered and integrated missile defense capability for the territory. Because of the island’s strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region, it’s considered a top priority for the Pentagon.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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