U.S. Successfully Intercepts Medium-Range Missile in First-Ever Guam Defense Test

Dec 10, 2024, 03:58 PM

The U.S. Department of Defense has conducted a successful missile defense test off the coast of Guam, marking a significant advancement in the island's defense capabilities against potential threats, particularly from China. The test involved the first-ever interception of a medium-range ballistic missile using the Aegis Guam System, which utilized an AN/TPY-6 radar and a Vertical Launching System (VLS) to fire a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA (SM-3 Block IIA) interceptor. This test, known as Flight Experiment Mission (FEM)-02, was executed near Andersen Air Force Base and demonstrated the system's ability to provide 360-degree protection for the island.