The US Navy (USN) conducted an unsuccessful ballistic missile intercept test on 21 June. Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) equipped with an Aegis Baseline 9.C2 combat system has failed to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range. Although the destroyer successfully detected and tracked the target on the AN/SPY-1 phased array radar, SM-3 Block IIA launched from the vessel failed to intercept its target.
The US Missile Defense Agency said the officials would conduct an extensive analysis of the test data. This was the first intercept test using Baseline 9.2C and the fourth flight test of the SM-3 Block IIA.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)