News Jan 3, 2024

Jacobs Provides Critical Support and Execution to the US Navy and Missile Defense Agency Joint Flight Test

The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency successfully intercepted multiple Integrated Air and Missile Defense Test targets.

Images courtesy of the Missile Defense Agency 

The U.S. Navy and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully intercepted multiple targets during an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) test executed at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.

Vigilant Wyvern, or Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-48 (FTM-48), demonstrated the ability of an Aegis ship to detect, track, engage and intercept four targets using the Aegis Weapon System in IAMD Priority Mode. The live targets were launched in the vicinity of the Aegis destroyer. The Aegis Weapon System could simultaneously detect, track and successfully intercept all targets. This was one of the largest IAMD test events ever conducted in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility and demonstrated concurrent ballistic missile defense and anti-airwarfare raids for the first time.

Jacobs and our teammates on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract directly supported the planning, integration and execution of this test in all phases. Most notably, IRES employees were deployed to prepare and support event personnel, which required IT systems with uninterrupted services and network connectivity. IRES employees also prepared, upgraded and maintained critical test assets throughout the event. From requirements management, logistics support, IT engineering and services, operations and situational awareness, command and control and mission assurance of event assets, talent from across the contract came together to carry out this successful test.

Jacobs and our teammates deliver superior integration and performance to facilitate the advancement of Missile Defense System capabilities, and in partnership with our diverse IRES customers, effectively deliver concurrent test, training and operations support in a dynamic and dispersed environment.

Additional information about this event can be found on MDA's website