KAUAI, Hawaii, Oct. 28, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] on Oct. 27 played a key role in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s second successful test of the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system. During the test, a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA, guided by a Boeing-built kinetic warhead sensor, engaged and destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

The Japanese destroyer JS Myoko (DDG-175) launched the SM-3; the missile target was fired from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai.

“The SM-3 Block IA, with its kinetic warhead sensor, reliably delivers precise hit-to-kill performance and provides a critical layer to Japan’s ballistic missile defense capability,” said Debra Rub, vice president of Boeing Weapons Programs. “Boeing is proud to be a member of the Raytheon-led industry team working in partnership with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy to ensure Japan is prepared to meet evolving threats.”

This test marked Japan’s second successful test of the system — the first successful flight test was in December 2007 — and the 15th successful intercept overall for the SM-3 since testing began in 2002.

Boeing builds and integrates the SM-3 kinetic warhead’s guidance assembly, and integrates and tests the avionics, guidance-and-control software and ejection subsystem, at its Huntington Beach, Calif., and Huntsville, Ala., facilities. Prime contractor Raytheon provides the infrared seeker and integrates the kinetic warhead components into the SM-3. Boeing has delivered more than 80 Block IA guidance, navigation and control hardware suites in support of kinetic warhead deliveries. Ongoing spiral development will lead to improved performance and lower cost on a path to meet future threats with Block IB and Block IIA missiles.

In addition to its work on the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program, Boeing has key roles in other elements of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System architecture, including development and production of the Ka-band millimeter wave seeker for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile.

“Boeing continues to build on the foundation of our success by focusing on the radar and sensor technologies required to increase missile defense capability and expand the umbrella of protection against evolving ballistic missile threats,” Rub said.

Source: Boeing