Sea-based radar passes test

Boeing, working with industry team mates and the US Missile Defense Agency, has successfully completed a Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system test using a new sea-based sensor.

During the test, the mobile Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX), positioned in the north-central Pacific Ocean, demonstrated its capability by detecting, tracking and assessing a long-range ballistic missile target launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

As part of the GMD system, SBX provided that target information via satellite to GMD's Colorado-based fire control system, which used the data to simulate a target strike with a simulated ground-based interceptor.

'Last night's successful test verified that the Sea-Based X-Band Radar can detect, track and provide precise trajectory information to help defend against a long-range ballistic missile attack,' said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager, Boeing Missile Defense Systems. 'The test builds on the momentum of the GMD program, which conducted two successful flight tests last year. SBX will perform essential sensing functions for the GMD system, which defends the United States against long-range ballistic missiles. SBX can be deployed worldwide; it can detect small objects thousands of miles away; it can provide critical data on incoming ballistic missile threats; and it is the only sensor platform of its type in the world.'