United States and Australia Collaborate on Integrated Air and Missile Defence Test

01 April 2024

Australian ANZAC Class frigate HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) and USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) wait off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, as they prepare for Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-32 (FTM-32) (photo: MDA)

Australia supported the United States (US) as it undertook a successful missile defence test off the coast of Hawaii. 

Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force assets supported the test conducted by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the US Navy.

An advanced medium range ballistic missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, as part of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-32 (FTM-32), held on March 28, 2024 in cooperation with the U.S. Navy (photo: MDA)

The US test involved the successful intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) test target.

This was the US MDA’s most complex test to date against a priority threat target and demonstrated the capability of the Aegis Weapon System to detect, track, engage, and intercept an MRBM target in the terminal phase of flight.

During the test, Australia demonstrated its advanced radar capabilities aboard a Navy vessel, HMAS Stuart, while a RAAF E-7 Wedgetail assisted in data collection and communications.

A Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP) is launched from the USS Preble (DDG 88) off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii as part of Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-32 (FTM-32), held March 28, 2024. During FTM-32, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, successfully conducted an intercept of an advanced Medium Range Ballistic Missile (photo: MDA)

Quotes attributable to Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton AO CSC:

“This was a unique opportunity to work closely with the US Missile Defense Agency and US Navy as they tested the Aegis Weapon System’s ability to detect, track and defend against short-to-medium range ballistic missiles, while we simultaneously observed the performance of our own systems.

“It is a great example of our deepening defence engagement with the US and an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the Australian Defence Force’s interoperability with the US Navy.”

A Standard Missile-3 Block IA (SM-3 Blk IA) missile intercepts a short-range ballistic missile target during a joint flight test designated Vigilant Wyvern/Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-48 (photo: DVIDS)

Quotes attributable to US Missile Defense Agency Director Lieutenant General Heath Collins: 

“This successful intercept against an advanced threat-representative target in the final stages of flight demonstrated the power and flexibility of the Aegis Weapons System. 

“The Missile Defense Agency is very grateful and honored to have had Australia participate in this important test and we look forward to working together with all of our allies on future collaborations to detect and maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”

(Aus DoD)