Standard Missile-3 Block IIA shoots down ICBM target off Hawaii

摘要

A Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptor shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile target during a flight test over the Pacific Ocean last night, demonstrating the extended reach of a weapon originally designed for shorter-range regional threats and bolstering Pentagon plans to add a second layer of homeland defenses against a limited ICBM attack from North Korea and potentially Iran. At approximately 7:50 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time, (12:50 a.m., Nov. 17, Eastern Standard Time), the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer John Finn (DDG-113) utilized "engage on remote" capabilities - which pair the Aegis ballistic missile defense system with forward-based radars via the Command and Control Battle Management Communications network - to track, acquire and intercept the simple ICBM target launched from a test site on Kwajalein Atoll toward the U.S. West Coast.