SM-3 BLOCK IIA CO-DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD) mission is to deliver an enduring, operationally effective and supportable Ballistic Missile Defense capability to defend the nation, deployed forces, friends and allies, and to increase this capability by delivering evolutionary improvements as part of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) upgrades. Aegis BMD provides a forward-deployable, mobile capability to detect and track Ballistic Missiles of all ranges, and the ability to destroy Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM), Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM), and Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) in the midcourse phase of flight. Upgrades to both the Aegis BMD Weapon System and the SM-3 configurations evolve Aegis BMD to provide effective, supportable defensive capability against more difficult threats. Beginning in 2006, Aegis BMD and the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) have undertaken an SM-3 Cooperative Development (SCD) program, which consists of an upgrade of the SM-3 Blk IB missile to a 21-inch diameter SM-3 missile (SM-3 Blk IIA). The objective of the SCD project is the development and initial at-sea flight test of the SM-3 Blk IIA missile. Key technology improvements planned for the SM-3 Blk IIA missile include an increase in velocity and an increase in range provided by a 21-inch diameter rocket motor propulsion stack, more than doubled seeker sensitivity and more than three times divert capability incorporated in an advanced kinetic warhead. Key component technologies to be developed include, but are not limited to: lightweight nosecone, advanced kinetic warhead, 21-inch second stage rocket motor, and 21-inch third stage rocket motor. The U.S. and Japan will equitably share both work and cost. BMD Systems Engineering: BMD Systems Engineering provides System Description Document and System Specifications for elements to design, build, integrate and test BMDS components. These products optimize performance at the system level and further ensure that the assessment of the designed BMD System is based on sufficient ground and flight testing. Aegis BMD compliance with BMD System level requirements is monitored in a series of requirements and design reviews both at the system and element levels, as well as the requirements traceability and Element certification efforts that lead to approved, configuration controlled element capability specifications. Common Threat Engineering: Common threat engineering produces common and consistent adversary trajectory and signature data to enable BMD System and sub-system concept and requirements, design, verification, and assessment. Common Threat data is contained in the Adversary Capability Document (ACD) and Adversary Data Packages (ADP) and drives BMDS ground tests, flight tests, digital simulations, and pre-mission analysis activities. It is also invoked by the BMD system Description Document and BMD System Specification. Aegis BMD system engineers adapt this data to input into validated and accredited 6-Degrees of Freedom (DOF) system models. Proving Missile Defense: Working with the Services` Operational Test Agencies (OTA), with the support of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), MDA has developed a test program to improve confidence in missile defense capabilities under development and ensure the capabilities transferred to the war fighter are operationally effective, suitable, and survivable. The BMDS performance evaluation strategy is to develop models and simulations of the BMDS and compare their predictions to empirical data collected through comprehensive flight and ground testing to validate their accuracy, rather than physically testing all possible combinations of BMDS configurations, engagement conditions, and target phenomena. The BMDS test review determined how to validate our models and simulations so that our war fighting commanders have confidence in the predicted performance of the BMDS, especially when those commanders consider employing the BMDS in ways other than originally planned or against threats unknown at this time. The test plan review resulted in a Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP) that is event-oriented and extends until the collection of all identified data is completed to ensure adequate test investments.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2012
• Source ID: 0604881C_4_0400_PB_2012
• Change Summary Explanation: As part of the Department of Defense reform agenda, implements a zero-based review of the organization to align resources to the most critical priorities and eliminate lower priority functions. The FY12 $18,954 thousand dollar increase in this program element is the resultant of efficiency savings efforts to keep costs down.
• Service Agency Name: Missile Defense Agency

Entities

Organizations

• Missile Defense Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Space
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Attitude Control Systems
• Ballistic Missiles
• Canisters
• Control Systems
• Control Test Vehicles
• Cost Analysis
• Engineering
• Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
• Medium Range Ballistic Missiles
• Procurement
• Rocket Engines
• Rockets
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Vehicles
• Vehicles

Readers

• Missile Defense Systems.