The US Navy’s SM-6 surface-to-air interceptor missile successfully shot down an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the US Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on the 3rd (local time).
This missile, which will be introduced to South Korea, is analyzed to be suitable for intercepting North Korea’s medium- and short-range missiles.
The U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency said that two SM-6 missiles launched from the USS Inouye (DDG 118), the latest Aegis destroyer in the Pacific Ocean on the 30th of last month, struck an intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pacific Missile Exercise Facility in Hawaii. It was announced that the interception test during the flight descent stage was successful.
The Missile Defense Agency said that it was able to demonstrate the detection, tracking, engagement, and interception capabilities of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, and that it would be used to protect US allies and US troops stationed overseas in the future.
The missile is designed to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in the end-of-flight phase, as well as aircraft, ships and cruise missiles, he said.
It is known that this missile can hit targets up to 370 km away in the case of aircraft and ships, and the maximum interception altitude for ballistic missiles is about 35 km.
Previously, the Defense Agency announced on the 13th of last month that it had decided to purchase SM-6 surface-to-air missiles to counter North Korean missiles.
The Navy is planning to mount these SM-6 interceptor missiles on three next-generation Aegis ships (KDX-III), which are scheduled to be introduced in phases from 2024, and are expected to become one of the main weapons of the ‘Korean Missile Defense System’.
Senior researcher Bruce Bennett, a military expert at the US Rand Institute, told RFA, “To protect South Korea, the SM-6 is suitable for dealing with short-range missiles that fly short distances at low altitudes.” (KN-23) and super-large multiple launchers (KN-25). It can block North Korea’s Scud and Rodong missiles, and the medium-range Hwasong-13 (KN-12) will have no problem.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.