The USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) prepares for an Oct. 25 joint test of the U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer Integrated Warfare Systems and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to defeat two short-range ballistic missile targets and two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets off the coast of Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii. (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)
By Rich Abott |
@ReaderRabott
1 year ago |
10/26/2023
missile defense Navy/USMC

A Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer successfully tested the ability to intercept multiple ballistic missile and drone targets at the same time in a joint test with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The test, called Vigilant Wyvern, or Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-48 (FTM-48) by the MDA, was revealed on October 25.

The USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) prepares for an Oct. 25 joint test of the U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer Integrated Warfare Systems and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to defeat two short-range ballistic missile targets and two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets off the coast of Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii. (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)
The USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) prepares for an Oct. 25 joint test of the U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer Integrated Warfare Systems and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to defeat two short-range ballistic missile targets and two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets off the coast of Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii. (Photo: Missile Defense Agency)

The Defense Department said this demonstrated the USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) Aegis destroyer performing integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) system engagement of two short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) representative targets with Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA interceptors and also shooting four SM-2 Block IIA interceptors at two subsonic anti-ship cruise missile drone targets.

“This realistic, live-fire raid scenario represented one of the largest IAMD events ever conducted in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility and demonstrated for the first time a concurrent Ballistic Missile Defense and Anti-Air Warfare raid,” the Navy and MDA said in a statement.

The test was conducted by the Navy’s Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) and MDA from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The targets were launched from that range.

DoD said ships are able to use IAMD Priority Mode to integrate more classic air defense, like against drones, with discrimination and tracking capabilities to also defend against simultaneous coordinated missile attacks.

PEO IWS lead Rear Adm. Seiko Okano said this was the first test event of its kind and an example of collaboration between the different DoD organizations.

“The success of Vigilant Wyvern is a huge milestone. The Navy and MDA successfully demonstrated the tremendous capability of Aegis ships defending against an IAMD raid scenario.”

MDA Acting Director Rear Adm. Douglas Williams also said the joint test was a “critical step in defending against multiple targets in a realistic raid scenario. The Aegis weapon system successfully defeated multiple concurrent attacks, showcasing the incredible versatility of both this system and the crew of the USS Carl M. Levin.”