US tests Aegis Combat System simultaneously engaging multiple targets

News, US October 28, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Navy’s USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) guided missile destroyer successfully completed the flight test of Aegis Weapon System-48 (FTM-48), also known as Vigilant Wyvern, at the north of the Pacific Missile Test Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.

During the test, the U.S. warship employed the latest advancements to the Aegis Combat System and simultaneously engaged multiple anti-ship cruise missile and ballistic missile defense targets. This was the first time the Aegis Combat System countered multiple targets at the same time.

According to the U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin’s statement, “The successful execution of FTM-48 by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the U.S. Navy Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) demonstrates consistent evolution and innovation of the Lockheed Martin developed Aegis Combat System.”

Lockheed Martin has developed the latest common source library update for the Aegis Combat System computer program, the 9.C2 baseline. The American defense firm featured BMD 5.1 capability deployed in most of the Aegis BMD fleet. “FTM-48 demonstrated Aegis’s ability to continue to defeat increasing numbers of difficult threats,” the statement highlighted.

Vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin, Joe DePietro said, “This is another step forward in proving capabilities in an operationally realistic scenario, which is crucial in outpacing evolving threats and staying ahead of the adversary.”

DePietro added that “Using this Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) foundation, the Aegis Combat System will continue to expand its capabilities to address today’s and tomorrow’s most challenging ballistic and hypersonic threats and raids.”

U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) — *^{U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120). (Image Credit: U.S. Navy/Seaforces)}*

The Lockheed Martin statement highlighted that by employing “SPY-1’s IAMD Priority Mode”, the FTM-48 demonstrated the capability of the Aegis Combat System to offer a balanced division of radar resources supporting multi-mission operations.

“This event proved ships equipped with the latest advanced Aegis Combat System can defend against numerous IAMD threats simultaneously and are pacing the threat any adversary employs,” the statement added.

The Aegis Combat System consistently delivers new capabilities, these innovations incorporate both the SPY-1 and a range of solid-state radars, including Lockheed Martin’s TPY-6 and SPY-7 radars. The system not only caters to the challenges of today’s threats but also offers the adaptability to evolve alongside the dynamic demands of an ever-changing environment.

Lockheed Martin is making efforts to develop new baselines aimed at tackling the next-generation threats and ensuring that the U.S. and its allies remain well-prepared and ahead of the curve.