Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is the sea-based element of the Missile Defense Agency Ballistic Missile Defense Architecture. The system has been tactically certified and deployed both in the United States and on allied territories. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System leverages and builds upon capabilities inherent in the Aegis Combat System, Standard Missile, and Navy Battlefield Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence systems. Aegis is at sea, on patrol, certified, and on alert, performing a strategic role in Homeland Defense.
Currently there are not enough ships to be deployed to Europe or the Middle East. Fleet already operates on 150 percent of its capability. However, stationing on the sea has multiple advantages - it is easier to obtain deployment rights, because ships can be stationed in international waters, as opposed to stationing land-based missile defenses on allied territories (Independent Working Group Report 2009).
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking Capability
- Aegis destroyers and cruisers on Ballistic Missile Defense patrol, detect and track long-, intermediate-, and short-range ballistic missiles and report track data back to the Command and Decision Center. The capability can share tracking data to cue other missile defense sensors and provides fire control data to Ground-Based Midcourse Defense interceptors located at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. To date, twenty-one Aegis Cruisers and Destroyers have been upgraded with the Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking capability.
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At sea tracking events and flight tests have verified the capability to track long-range ballistic missiles and demonstrated the connectivity and reliability of long-haul transmission of track data (across eight time zones) necessary to support missile defense situational awareness, target cueing, and engagements. In February 2008 reprogrammed Standart Missile-3 successfully intercepted failed satellited. During the intercept satellite's highly toxic fuel evaporated and harmlessly burned in Earth's atmosphere.
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Powerful AN/SPY-1 Radar is capable to perform search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a track capacity of well over 100 targets at more than 100 nautical miles (190 km).
Engagement Capability
- Aegis cruisers and destroyers, some of them with Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking capability, are being upgraded to be able to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats with the Standart Missile-3.
- Flight tests are conducted using operational warships, operated by fleet Sailors and Officers. Each test progressively increases the operational realism and complexity of targets and scenarios. To date, there were seventeensuccessful intercepts out of twenty-one attempts.
- The ballistic missile defense capability has been installed in three Aegis cruisers and fifteen destroyers. Additional three Aegis ships have Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking capability.
Deployment
- More Aegis ships are going to be deployed next year and the continuous upgrade of the fleet is expected. Operational life of the ships is expected to be 40 instead of 35 years. Six more ships are expected to be upgraded by 2012/2013.
- Aegis ships currently deply the Standard Missile-2 and the newer Standard Missile-3 technology to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.
Future Capabilities
- Increased precision track data via radar signal processing upgrades, improving both Long-Range Surveillance and Tracking and engagement capabilities.
- Defense against intermediate-range and long-range ballistic missiles.