The United States of America continues to build its strategic missile defense system. This time the fresh news concerns the testing of its new element - the updated Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) rocket. On June 27, it was announced that the missile had successfully hit a training ballistic target in the Pacific Ocean. A Pentagon press release proudly noted that both test launches this year were deemed successful.
The purpose of the current tests is to fine-tune the next modification of the SM-3 missiles under the designation Block 1B. The new version of the SM-3 has slightly better flight characteristics, and the bulk of the changes concerned its electronics. First of all, it was improved for full compatibility with the Aegis combat information and control system (CIUS) version 4.0.1 and higher. The rest of the modernization of the electronic "stuffing" of the rocket is associated with cheaper production and improved performance. However, the primary task is still precisely to extend the service life of missiles due to compatibility with the updated CIUS.
The first ship in the US Navy to receive the updated Aegis system in version 4.0.1 was the cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70). Accordingly, it was he who was entrusted with the test launch of a new rocket. In addition, the cruiser Lake Erie is known for shooting down a faulty satellite USA-193 in February 2008. Moreover, the interception of this target was carried out precisely with the help of the Aegis + SM-3 bundle. Now the ship is involved in testing the updated control system and the rocket.
It is reported that on the morning of June 27 this year, a medium-range ballistic missile was launched from the Kauai test site (Hawaii). The specific type of missile was not named. The flight route of the training target lay in the direction of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. A few minutes after launch, the cruiser Lake Erie radar detected a training target. A few minutes later - after the missile entered the affected area - the SM-3 Block 1B was launched. It is known that the missile used as a training target had a multiple warhead. Nevertheless, the missile managed to hit the target before the payload was dropped. The wreckage of the warhead fell into the ocean.
It is noteworthy that this was not the first launch. The first launch of the SM-3 Block 1B rocket in September last year ended in failure. In May of this year, the same ship already conducted a training interception of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The purpose of that launch was exactly the same as this time. Based on the results of the September and May tests, a number of conclusions were drawn and several errors in the operation of the systems were corrected. Thanks to these improvements, the second training launch this year was reportedly less problematic than the first. In the near future, we should expect several more similar tests, the goal of which will be the final refinement of Aegis 4.0.1, SM-3 Block 1B and their interactions.
A more ambitious goal of the ongoing modernization is to create a universal combat information and control system and missiles, suitable for use in various conditions. Recall that now the American strategic missile defense system has naval and ground elements. At the same time, the first of them was created on the basis of the Aegis BIUS and missiles of the SM family, and the THAAD complex is used in the ground system. Now the Pentagon plans to adapt the Aegis for use in ground complexes. According to rumors, the reason for this decision is the results of tests of sea and ground missile defense systems. As it turned out, Aegis in conjunction with the SM-2 and SM-3 interceptor missiles is more effective than THAAD. Currently, the leadership of the United States and a number of European countries are going to deploy in Europe precisely ground-based anti-missile systems based on Aegis.
Romania is the first "contender" to host the new system. According to the available data, ground complexes of the Euro-Atlantic missile defense system, made on the basis of Aegis, will be installed on the territory of this country. The term of this placement is still in question. Due to ongoing testing, deployment of the system will not begin until 2015 at the earliest. Completion of construction, in turn, is attributed to the years 2016-17. In addition to ground-based CIUS Aegis 4.0.1, of course, it is also suitable for installation on ships. It is expected that the fourth version of the information and control system will be installed on the destroyers of the Arleigh Burke project, starting with the ship with the DDG-15 index. Subsequently, it is possible to modernize the already built ships of both the Arleigh Burke project and the Ticonderoga. At the same time, depending on the time of the start of re-equipment, a newer version of the system can be installed on these ships. At the same time, in the best possible combination of circumstances, version 5.0 will not appear until 2020. As for the SM-3 Block 1B missiles, in terms of design, they are fully compatible even with the existing technology. There are problems of interaction only in the field of interface of control systems. However, over time, all ships with "Aegis" may well be transferred to updated missiles.
However, first you need to complete the tests and finish the fine-tuning of all systems. Judging by the announced timing of the deployment of the complexes in Romania, it is planned to spend several years on this. At this time, we should expect a new round of disputes and even scandals regarding the joint project of the anti-missile system of the United States and European countries.
