U.S. Tests Aegis Guam System, Intercepts Air-Launched Missile Amid China Threat

Dec 10, 2024, 04:52 PM

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully conducted Flight Experiment Mission (FEM)-02, the first-ever live interception of a ballistic missile from Guam, marking a critical step in enhancing the defense capabilities of the U.S. Pacific territory amid growing threats from China. On Tuesday, an Aegis Guam System equipped with an AN/TPY-6 radar and a tilting Mark 41 Vertical Launching System fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA (SM-3 Blk IIA) interceptor, which successfully destroyed an air-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile target off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base, according to the Pentagon. The successful interception demonstrates the system's ability to provide 360-degree protection for Guam against missile threats. Defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies participated in the test, which signifies a significant advancement in the Missile Defense Agency's efforts to harden the island's missile defenses, particularly in response to potential threats from adversaries in the region.