McChord participates in Missile Defense Agency tests

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Todd Wivell
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  As part of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's test to stress the ability of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense and Terminal High Altitude Defense weapon systems, two C-17 Globemaster III air crews from the 7th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., participated in the successful execution of airdropping target missiles, Oct. 31, in the vicinity of Wake Island and surrounding areas of the western Pacific Ocean.

Combined with the MDA, Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Operational Test Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command and Air Mobility Command the event was conducted as a complex operational flight test of the BMD demonstrating a layered defense architecture.

The Missile Defense Agency's mission is to develop, test, and field an integrated, layered, ballistic missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends against all ranges of enemy ballistic missiles in all phases of flight.

This particular test stressed the ability of Aegis BMD and THAAD weapon systems to negate two ballistic missile threats while Aegis BMD simultaneously conducted an anti-air warfare operation.

This highly complex operational test required all elements to work together in an integrated layered defense design to detect, track, discriminate, engage, and negate the ballistic missile threats.

"McChord crews have participated with the MDA for the past several years in a series of tests designed to improve our nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System," said Lt. Col. Scott Wiederholt, 7th AS commander. "Specifically, the continuity for the McChord's role has resided within the 7th Airlift Squadron."

At approximately 11:05 p.m., Oct. 31, a Short Range Air Launch Target was launched by a McChord Field C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, southeast of Wake Island.

The THAAD Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance and Control Model 2 radar in terminal mode detected the target and relayed track information to the THAAD Fire Control and Communications event to develop a fire control solution and provide track information for use by other defending BMDS assets.

The THAAD weapon system developed a fire control solution, launched a THAAD interceptor missile, and successfully intercepted the SRALT target.

While THAAD was engaging the SRALT, an extended Medium Range Ballistic Missile was air-launched by a second C-17 out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The eMRBM target was detected and tracked by multiple BMDS assets including the AN/TPY-2 in forward-based mode, and the USS John Paul Jones with its AN/SPY-1 radar.

"The test was highly successful. Shortly after the SRALT exited the aircraft all team members aboard gave high fives and cheers," said Wiederholt. "That the test executed successfully was a relief and a moment of pride for all involved. The crew launched the SRALT at exactly the right time and provided an optimal start to the test."

According to the commander, the integration with several other assets, the overall nature of the test profile...to include very strict time tolerances, presented a complex tactical problem for the crew. Additionally, weather delays and test profile adjustments, extended the timeframe needed to complete the test. 

"These opportunities not only challenge the crewmembers with their tactical Airmanship skills, it also provides a unique opportunity for crewmembers to participate in a large and complex evolution that directly affects our nation's strategic defense against ballistic missile threats," said Wiederholt. "It is not often where we get to see direct results from a mission, and this test gave the crew just that result.

"Not only was it cool to airdrop a missile out of the back of an airplane, witness it ignite and launch...the crew's efforts also enabled our Navy and Army brethren to successfully test the systems they operate for a strategic element to our nation's defense.
 
"This truly was a joint effort in concert with the MDA personnel and sister services."