he United States recently tested anti-hypersonic defense tactics to counter the threat posed by hypersonic weapons. The test, conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, successfully executed Flight Test Other-40 (FTX-40), or Stellar Banshee.
In doing so, the agency achieved a significant step in advancing defenses to counter hypersonic threats.
During the test, USS Pinckney (DDG 91) demonstrated the ability to detect, track and perform a simulated engagement of an advanced maneuvering hypersonic target using the Sea Based Terminal (SBT) Increment 3 capability embedded in the latest Aegis software baseline.
MDA revealed that the tracking exercise included firing a simulated Standard Missile (SM)-6 upgraded missile at the target, an air-launched Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) with a Hypersonic Target Vehicle (HTV) – 1 front end. This target is engineered to allow testing and defeat of a variety of hypersonic threats.
The agency maintained that FTX-40 also provided a data collection opportunity for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) demonstration satellite.
“Our ability to defeat maneuvering, hypersonic missiles is critical if we are to defend our homeland and our forces against an increasingly dangerous threat,” said MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins.
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