In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a “phased adaptive approach” (PAA) for the missile defense of Europe to be deployed in four phases with a mix of sea- and land-based assets. A critical element is the Raytheon Standard Missile 3 interceptor, which in its Block 1A configuration forms the basis of PAA Phase I capability, which has now been implemented.
Raytheon is now developing the Block 1B version of the missile in line with the implementation of PAA Phase II in 2015. On June 26 the third flight test (FTM-18) of this version was conducted at the Pacific Missile Test Range in Hawaii, during which the SM-3’s hit-to-kill vehicle successfully engaged a separating ballistic missile target. The initial three shots tested the missile’s basic end-to-end operation, but trials will now increase in complexity toward operationally representative tests. The next trial, FTM-19, is due before the end of this year.
