US destroyer intercepts ballistic missile with SM-6 Dual I missiles in latest test

US Navy destroyer USS John Paul Jones fired two Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual I missiles to successfully stop a medium-range ballistic missile target in the latest test.

Taking place off the coast of Hawaii on August 29, the test was designated Flight Test Standard Missile-27 Event 2 (FTM-27 E2) and marked the second time an SM-6 missile successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target.

Lockheed Martin further noted this was the seventh successful intercept test of the Aegis Baseline 9.1 (BMD 5.0CU) Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) tracking and engagement capabilities and the third successful SM-6 BMD intercept test using Baseline 9.1.

“The recent ballistic missile defense test off the coast of Hawaii demonstrates that Aegis can successfully execute complicated missions against a medium-range ballistic missile target,” said Paul Klammer, director, Aegis BMD, for Lockheed Martin. “This latest test continues to demonstrate the cutting-edge capabilities and reliability of the Aegis Baseline 9 system.”