The exercise aimed to evaluate the detection and tracking capabilities of advanced hypersonic threats, with the USS Pinckney playing a key role. It also involved a simulated launch of an upgraded Standard Missile 6 at the MRBM, which featured a Hypersonic Target Vehicle 1.
L3Harris described the eSR-19 as an enhanced version of the legacy SR-19 motor used in the second stage of Minuteman III strategic missiles. The upgraded motor includes a lighter filament-wound composite casing and other technical improvements to boost performance.
“L3Harris designs, builds and integrates air-launched target missiles and then launches them from C-17 aircraft to provide realistic test trajectories,” said Ken Bedingfield, President of Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris. “The enhanced capability of our new eSR-19 solid rocket motor, combined with our proven air-launch system, allows our target missile to accurately represent a wider array of potential threats, providing MDA with more flexibility in developing test scenarios.”
