Thales: US Navy intercepts ballistic missiles in space

During a large-scale rocket defense maneuver led by the United States, the USS Paul Ignatius used data from Thales' SMART-L MM/N long-range surveillance radar to launch a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) using a launch-on-remote test to intercept and steer a ballistic missile well outside the Earth's atmosphere.

Installed on the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the SMART-L MM/N radar autonomously detected and tracked the ballistic missile during the At-Sea Demo / Formidable Shield 2021 exercise (ASD/FS21) without having received a corresponding order. This was an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) maneuver in the test area off the coast of Scotland, organized by the US Navy's 6th Fleet and the Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum.

The SMART-L MM/N radar successfully tracked the ballistic missile for more than 5 minutes at speeds of 3 km per second and an altitude of over 300 km. The USS Paul Ignatius received the tracking data via the NATO communication network. Based on this tracking data, the USS Paul Ignatius conducted mission planning and carried out the launch on remote test of the SM-3 interceptor against the identified threat. The test was successful: the ballistic missile was destroyed in space.

ASD/FS21 involved 10 nations, 15 ships, and a variety of aircraft and ground-based assets. Throughout the exercises, a large number of air defense, ground combat, BMD, and IAMD scenarios were executed. Additional scenarios in which the Thales systems on board the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën were tested included engagement against a low-flying supersonic cruise missile and an IAMD scenario in which the systems tracked, engaged threats from the air, and concurrently tracked the threat from a ballistic missile.

With ASD/FS-21, the goal is to enhance the interoperability of allied forces within an IAMD environment under heavy fire using NATO Command & Control reporting structures. Through this support, participating naval forces can strengthen, understand, and train their IAMD capabilities within a multinational environment. Maintaining this capability is critical for nations to be ready and conduct these operations in a potential crisis situation. Through an upgrade program involving new systems, such as the new command information center and the new SMART-L MM/N, the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën was prepared for BMD/IAMD missions. Together, these systems contribute to a new BMD early warning capability for the De Zeven Provinciën class. Furthermore, the launch-on-remote test provided essential data for the development of the BMD Engagement Support capability.

About SMART-L Multi Mission
SMART-L Multi Mission is a rotating, fully digital AESA radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array). By using high-end technologies, a radar with an unparalleled range of 2,000 km is created. Within this enormous range, the SMART-L MM detects a variety of objects: air-breathing targets, stealth objects, and ballistic missiles. SMART-L MM autonomously detects ballistic missile objects. The AESA technology supports advanced dual-axis multi-beam operational modes, engagement tracking, and a non-rotating 'Starr' mode.

The programmable radar provides full flexibility. Additional features can be added during the lifecycle according to customer requirements. This makes the radar future-proof for evolving demands. Currently, the Royal Netherlands Navy has commissioned Thales to develop, produce, and install four SMART-L MM/N systems.

These systems are used for monitoring the Dutch airspace. Various armed forces worldwide have shown interest in SMART-L MM. In various tests and demonstrations at the Thales site, SMART-L MM has detected and tracked satellites in orbit with a range of up to 2,000 km. Currently, two of the four frigates of the De Zeven Provinciën class of the Royal Netherlands Navy for air defense and operations command have the SMART-L MM/N – two more will follow. The first of the two SMART-L MM radars commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Air Force was installed onsite in Wier in the north of the Netherlands.

Thales online: www.thalesgroup.com

Thales Defence online: www.thalesdsi.com