The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation with the US Navy, has successfully executed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40), or Stellar Banshee, to test new technologies designed to counter hypersonic threats to operational forces.
During the test, conducted off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, on Monday, March 24, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney demonstrated the ability to detect, track and perform a simulated engagement of an advanced manoeuvring hypersonic target using the Sea Based Terminal (SBT) Increment III capability embedded in the latest Aegis combat system software baseline.
The tracking exercise included firing a simulated Standard Missile (SM) 6 upgraded missile at the target, an air-launched medium-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic target vehicle front end. This target has been engineered to allow testing and defeat of a variety of hypersonic threats.
FTX-40 also provided a data collection opportunity for the hypersonic and ballistic tracking space sensor (HBTSS) demonstration satellite. Developed by the MDA, HBTSS satellites will provide continuous tracking and enable handoff for targeting of enemy missiles.
"Our ability to defeat manoeuvering, hypersonic missiles is critical if we are to defend our homeland and our forces against an increasingly dangerous threat," said MDA Director Lieutenant General Heath Collins.
"The Aegis weapon system will play a vital role in the next-generation integrated air and missile defence system, and today’s test demonstrated key achievements as we continue to partner with the navy in advancing our nation’s counter-hypersonic capabilities."