U.S. missile intercept test bolsters Free and Open Indo-Pacific

For the first time, the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has intercepted an air-launched, medium-range ballistic missile target during a test off Guam, marking a milestone in the U.S. territory’s defense capabilities.

The Western Pacific island is a strategic location for U.S. military assets. Less than 3,000 kilometers from the People’s Republic of China, Guam is crucial to maintaining the U.S. presence in the region, including deterring potential adversaries, responding to crises, and bolstering a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The December 10, 2024, test underscores the U.S. Defense Department’s commitment to homeland protection and to boosting Guam’s safeguards against evolving missile threats.

During the test, the Aegis Guam System, integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System, fired a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA from Andersen Air Force Base. The missile intercepted the target more than 370 kilometers off northeast Guam. The target was launched from a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.

“This is a tremendous group effort and provides a glimpse of how organizations within the Department of Defense have come together to defend our homeland Guam now and in the future,” Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, the MDA’s director, said in a news release. “Collectively, we will use this to build upon and validate joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Guam.”

The test was part of the weeklong capabilities exercise Sling Stone, conducted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to enhance warfighter capabilities and rehearse homeland defense operations. Held in conjunction with Joint Task Force-Micronesia (JTF-M), Sling Stone brought together personnel and assets from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy, as well as from allied forces, to use the missile intercept test for multidomain training.

As part of exercise Sling Stone in December 2024, a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA fired from Andersen Air Force Base intercepted an air-launched ballistic missile target more than 370 kilometers off northeast Guam.
IMAGE CREDIT: U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

“The success of Sling Stone is a testament to the incredible work our joint-service team does every day to maintain a strong defensive posture in the Indo-Pacific region,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander of JTF-M. “Leveraging MDA’s missile intercept test to train how we fight just made sense. We will take lessons learned and continue to strengthen the architecture of Guam’s defense against evolving adversary missile threats.”

The exercise included live, virtual and constructive training environments simulating multidomain operations in the air, land and sea.

The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Milius, operating off Guam, detected, tracked and simulated engagement of the target, providing air defense coverage.

Task Force Talon, the U.S. Army’s Guam-based Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit, also received missile tracking information. The THAAD battery provides ballistic missile defense.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Haguro provided air defense support, increasing interoperability and fostering information sharing among forces.

Sling Stone also enabled military, homeland security and civil defense personnel to hone notification and crisis response procedures to better serve the community.

The missile intercept test will inform the broader initiative to develop, install and operate the Guam Defense System, a combination of Air Force, Army, MDA and Navy components that will provide integrated air and missile defense for the island.