The 418th Flight Test Squadron, a Global Reach Joint Test Force, successfully supported partners at the Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense during recent combat interceptor experiments in Guam.
The landmark test, announced by the Missile Defense Agency on Dec. 10, included a live interception of a ballistic missile target and was the first ballistic missile defense event conducted from the territory.
During the flight test, the Aegis Guam system was integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and vertical launch system to fire a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA to intercept an air-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile target off Andersen Air Force coast. Base, Guam. The AN/TPY-6 radar tracked a target immediately after launch to intercept in the first end-to-end tracking use of a radar during live flight testing of a ballistic missile.
This test event, designated Flight Experiment Mission-02, marked a pivotal step taken to protect Guam’s initiatives and partnerships, and improve the overall concept, requirements for the future Guam Defense System (GDS). provides critical support for validation, data collection and model maturation. The future is focused on defending Guam and protecting the military from potential regional missile threats.
“This is a tremendous group effort and a glimpse into how organizations within the Department of Defense are coming together to protect our homeland of Guam now and in the future,” said MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins. Ta. “Together, we will use this to build and validate Guam’s joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defense capabilities. We thank everyone involved, especially the people and government of Guam.”
The 418th FLTS, a flight test squadron within the 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, conducts developmental flight tests and maneuver aircraft evaluations, experimental airdrops, and experimental aircraft evaluations upon request. We strongly support the Missile Defense Agency as the Air Force’s recognized leader. Aerial refueling certification. Given the strategic importance of FEM-02, MDA specifically asked to partner with the 418th FLTS to ensure the highest level of safe and successful test planning and execution within the C-17 enterprise.
The 418th took over the Air Mobility Command C-17 in November, and a special instrumentation and maintenance team modified the aircraft to connect inside an intermediate-range ballistic missile launcher. This allowed the C-17 to collect important data during the test. 412 Test Building’s renowned safety and risk management processes were implemented simultaneously to ensure all components were analyzed to maximize risk mitigation.
“The 418th Flight Test Squadron and Global Reach Joint Test Force have partnered with MDA for more than a decade to provide air-launched capabilities and airdrops of threat-representative surrogate targets,” said 418th Flight Test Squadron Command. said Lt. Col. Daniel Edelstein. “The 412th Test Wing has extensive experience in high-altitude experimental airdrop test campaigns, and these tests are designed to focus on the nation’s multi-domain ballistic missile defense systems. Our test flight crew, engineers, program management, and logistics support are second to none. We have a very strategically important USINDOPACOM. We take great pride in providing risk-informed testing expertise to our mission partners in support of their capability exercises.”
FEM-02 is the first demonstration conducted on Guam as part of a long-term effort to defend U.S. territory, and is a larger demonstration of the development, installation, and operation of a GDS comprised of a combination of functional Department of Defense service components. It will inform large-scale efforts. Work together to provide an enhanced integrated air and missile defense system. Department of Defense service components will work together to develop and field a durable, multi-layered integrated air and missile defense capability.
In the context of homeland defense, the Department of Defense’s top priority, Guam maintains and maintains a U.S. military presence, deters adversaries, responds to crises, and maintains a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It is also a strategic base for
