March 31, 2017

The U.S. Navy announced it completed a successful flight test of the AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) off the west coast of Hawaii.

During the March 15 flight test, designated Vigilant Hunter, the AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR searched for, detected and maintained track on a short-range ballistic missile target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii.

The navy said this was the first in a series of ballistic missile defense flight tests planned for the AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR.

“This marked a historic moment for the Navy. It’s the first time a ballistic missile target was tracked by a wideband digital beamforming radar,” said U.S. Navy Captain Seiko Okano, Major Program Manager for Above Water Sensors, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems. “This radar will revolutionize the future of the U.S. Navy and is bringing a capability our nation needs today.”

Based on preliminary data, the test met its primary objectives. Program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test.

The AN/SPY-6(V) AMDR is being designed for the DDG 51 Flight III destroyer to provide the U.S. Navy with the necessary technology for Integrated Air and Missile Defense.