The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) has successfully achieved its third ballistic missile intercept using a Raytheon Standard Missile-3.

The SM-3 block IA missile engaged and destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

The missiles are deployed to defend against short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the ascent and mid-course phases of flight.

The company is also developing the next-generation long-range SM-3 block IIA missile with a larger kinetic warhead for a greater area of defence against sophisticated threats.

Raytheon’s SM-3 is part of the Missile Defense Agency’s sea-based Aegis ballistic missile defence system. More than 100 SM-3s have been delivered to date.