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Japanese destroyer conducts successful BMD test

A Japanese destroyer shot down a ballistic missile target during a seven-minute engagement off Hawaii on Tuesday night, becoming the third Japanese ship to demonstrate an engagement capability using the Aegis combat system.

The destroyer Myoko used a Standard SM-3 Block IA missile to intercept the separating medium-range target above the Earth’s atmosphere at an altitude of about 100 miles, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The target was launched from the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range facility on Kauai island at about 6 p.m. Hawaii time. Myoko’s crew detected the launch and at about 6:04 p.m. fired the interceptor missile, which hit the target about three minutes later.

The Myoko becomes the third Japanese ship to be declared operational with the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability. The destroyer Kongo carried out a similar successful exercise in December 2007, and another destroyer, the Chokai, performed what was termed by MDA a “successful engagement” exercise in November 2008, although a technical glitch prevented a missile interception.

A fourth Japanese Aegis destroyer, the Kirishima, also is to be upgraded with the BMD capability.

Two U.S. Navy ships also participated in the missile exercise. The destroyer Paul Hamilton tracked the target and performed a simulated engagement, according to MDA, while the cruiser Lake Erie — the regular MDA test ship — tracked the missile target and post-intercept debris using the advanced signal processor of the next generation of Aegis BMD, version BMD 4.0.1. Full operational certification of BMD 4.0.1 is expected in 2011, according to Aegis developer Lockheed Martin.

Nineteen U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers are operational with Aegis BMD capability in addition to the three Japanese ships, and more are being upgraded.

Before returning to Japan, the Myoko will be loaded with additional Raytheon SM-3 Block IA missiles. An MDA news release said the ship will arrive in Japan “ready to provide additional ballistic missile defense capability against the increasing ballistic missile threat present in the region.”