United in strength
Allied missile defense exercise helps to build a shield of protection
Raytheon Technologies-built missiles played key roles in a multi-nation integrated air and missile defense exercise aimed at ensuring systems run by the U.S. and its allies work together.
Fired from the USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), an SM-3® missile intercepted a target at sea in the NATO-led Formidable Shield, held on May 1-19, 2019, off the coast of Scotland. The exercise, the second of its kind, brought navies of several allied nations together to intercept and destroy mock ballistic missiles with interceptors.
The exercise involved missile defense systems from nine countries: the U.S., Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the U.K.
“A missile threat could come without warning and the U.S., along with our allies, must be ready to react quickly,” said Dr. Mitch Stevison, a vice president at Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a business of Raytheon Technologies.
Raytheon Standard Missiles fired in Formidable Shield 19
The SM-2™missile and ESSM® guided missile also engaged targets during the live-fire exercise. Both systems are components of a ship’s layered defenses, which allows navies to fend off advanced threats with an overlapping shield of systems.
Beyond ensuring that U.S. missile defense systems can operate with those of coalition partners, multinational exercises help address challenges like the integration of computer networks and communications systems. Such exercises also build alliances, enable capability sharing and allow allied navies to improve at-sea proficiency.
“The opportunity for multiple nations to share the technology of sensors, effectors, radars and interceptors creates a stronger missile defense posture,” Stevison said.
