The exercise was designed to improve the ability of allied and partner forces to track and intercept ballistic missiles together. It combined coordinated missile defense operations with tactical data-link information sharing across the participating forces.
Kratos describes the broader ARAV family as configurable short- and medium-range ballistic missile targets that can emulate different threats. The vehicles use advanced staging to support flexible trajectories and have completed more than 50 successful defense missions, according to the company.
Kratos does not provide a separate technical breakdown of ARAV-6 on its ballistic systems webpage. It instead lists three configurations within the ARAV family: Type B, Type C and Type TTO.
ARAV Type B is a two-stage, spin-stabilized vehicle with a Terrier first stage and an Oriole second stage. It supports selectable flight events and can be fitted with optional thrust-vector control.
The two-stage, spin-stabilized ARAV Type C combines a Talos MK11 first stage with a Castor IA second stage. Kratos also offers Zeus motors for systems intended to double performance.
ARAV Type TTO uses two Terrier stages and an Oriole in a three-stage, spin-stabilized configuration. It supports low-apogee trajectories, different impact dispersions, selectable payloads and nose tips, as well as thrust-vector control.
Kratos also markets the Terrier-Terrier-Oriole vehicle for hypersonic flight testing. The company says the system provides accurate direct insertion and extended ballistic flight at speeds exceeding Mach 8.
The company integrates surplus military and commercial rockets to meet different trajectory requirements for scientific testing. Its flight-proven payload systems support de-spin, separation, attitude control and rate control.
Pacific Dragon 2026 took place in waters around the Hawaiian Islands from August 6 to 15. U.S. 3rd Fleet conducted the biennial exercise with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and forces from Australia, Chile, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Spain and the United States.
The exercise included in-port and underway phases, with port activities focused on interoperability, training at the Pacific Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center and preparations for operations at sea. It also introduced a multi-mission event combining ballistic missile defense with broader integrated air and missile defense scenarios.
“Through this exercise our forces are strengthening interoperability, improving information sharing, and refining the tactics and procedures necessary to operate together,” said Vice Adm. Marc Miguez, commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet. He said Pacific Dragon reflected a shared commitment to advancing integrated air and missile defense capabilities across the region.
Participating warships included HMAS Sydney, Almirante Cochrane, ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere, JS Kongo, ROKS Jeongjo the Great, SPS Álvaro de Bazán and USS Jack H. Lucas. Aircraft included an Australian E-7A Wedgetail and U.S. P-8A Poseidon, F/A-18 Hornet, MQ-9 Reaper and BQM-177A subsonic aerial target platforms.
USS Jack H. Lucas is the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in U.S. Navy service. The ship carries the Baseline 10 combat system and AN/SPY-6 radar, representing the Navy’s continued development of integrated air and missile defense capabilities.
