Navy Ship Breakthrough Defenses – Destroys Attacking Sea-Skimming Cruise Missile

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington D.C.) The US Navy’s ship-integrated Aegis Combat System has made several critical breakthrough steps forward in recent years, as software upgrades have helped enable the radar and fire control system to simultaneously conduct ballistic and cruise missile defense and also succeed in demonstrating an ability to intercept mock-ICBM targets with an SM-3 Block IIA just beyond the earth’s atmosphere. 

Now, the Aegis system is taking new steps and demonstrating an ability to destroy incoming, lower-flying sea-skimming attacking cruise missiles. This is quite significant, as cruise missiles often fly at low altitudes parallel to the surface as a way to fly below the radar aperture or field of regard available on most ships.

Aegis is Showing Off What It Can Do

The service released a video showing its SM-2 interceptor missile destroying a GQM-163 mock cruise missile target, a significant element in the Navy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and better network its layered system of ship defenses. The successful intercept may involve further software upgrades or technical adaptations to Aegis radar, the most recent variant being Baseline 10.

The Navy has also in recent years put through a “technical insertion” upgrade to further enhance the capabilities of Aegis Baseline 10. As an integrated system involving advanced, highly-sensitive radar, fire control technology and advanced computing, Aegis relies heavily upon software to improve functionality.

Aegis Can Be a Game-Changer

Not only can new Aegis applications perform air and cruise missile defense in tandem with ballistic missile defense simultaneously, but can now increasingly coordinate larger numbers of interceptor missions. Aegis radar hit new interceptor ranges with the emergence of its upgraded SM-3 Block IIA variant which not only improves size but also upgrades target discrimination through software enhancements. Most recently, the SM-3 Block IIA succeeded in intercepting an ICBM-like target just as it finishes the mid course phase and begins to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. 

The SM-6, an interceptor for closer-in medium-range targets, has also greatly improved in recent years with its dual-mode seeker able to send its own ping forward to adjust in flight to moving targets. With this technology, the SM-6 can adapt its course to changing targets without needing to rely upon a ship-based illuminator, a technology that has proven effective during use in the Navy’s Naval Integrated Fire Control – Counter Air technology.