Success for First Aegis Ashore Missile Launch

The first launch of an anti-ballistic missile from a new shore-based version of the classic Aegis missile system was successfully carried out in Hawaii.
Aegis Ashore is being developed for installation on land facilities in Europe. Ground for the first installation was broken in October at a military base in Romania, and the system is scheduled to become operational by late 2015.
Launch of a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IB, from a test installation , was conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, the US Navy and engineers from Lockheed.
The test validated the layout of Aegis Ashore, which differs from the shipboard installation familiar to thousands of cruiser and destroyer sailors in that the vertical launch cells are considerably farther from the system’s command-and-control facilities.
In Hawaii, the launcher is about three-and-a-half miles from the Aegis deckhouse . The layout in Romania will be closer together.
Aegis Ashore uses a system nearly identical to the seagoing version, with the same vertical launch system, fire control system and SPY-1D radar. The building housing the system is strikingly similar, inside and out, to the steel deckhouse of Aegis ships.
The test, was also the first launch of an SM-3 by Aegis Baseline 9, the latest iteration of the Aegis combat system.
The flight test in Hawaii used Aegis Ashore Controlled Test Vehicle 01, and used a simulated target.
Only one more Aegis Ashore flight test is scheduled in Hawaii. An event using a real target is planned for next year.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is building an Aegis Ashore complex on 269 acres at a base near Deveselu, Romania.
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Americans to send first element of anti-missile system in Europe to Romania

The firsts components of a US-made anti-missile system are being assembled in New Jersey ahead of their shipping to Romania in a few weeks.
In about a year, all the pieces will be reassembled to become the first operational shore-based element of the European Phased Adaptive Approach anti-missile system.
The system is the first land-based version of the Aegis combat system, a sophisticated collection of phased-array radars, fire control directors, computers and missiles.
The deployment of the Aegis Ashore system in Romania to provide ballistic missile coverage for southern Europe represents the second phase of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, and will also use enhanced SM-3 Block IB interceptor missiles.
A second Aegis Ashore site will be built in Poland.
The local component of the shield at Deveselu will cover 175 hectares and around 200 American staff and troops will be stationed in Romania once the base becomes functional, in 2015.
According to the agreement signed in 2011, Deveselu remains under Romania’s property and sovereign jurisdiction.
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Second Generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target

Lockheed Martin's second-generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system achieved its fourth intercept since May 2012. The system successfully launched and guided a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missile to engage a sophisticated, separating short-range ballistic missile target.

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