 On March 30, 2023, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1 Alpha or FTM-31 E1A, a landmark display of missile defense capability. Conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, or PMRF, off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, FTM-31 E1A demonstrated the capability of a ballistic missile defense configured Aegis Ship to detect, track, engage, and intercept an advanced target in its terminal phase. The Navy's Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer, the USS Daniel Inouye, DDG-118, utilizing the Standard Missile-6 Dual-2, or SM-6 Dual-2 with software upgrade, fired a single salvo of two interceptors to engage the target, successfully demonstrating the U.S. Navy's ballistic missile defense, or BMD capability. FTM-31 E1A represents the third successful flight test of an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel using the SM-6 Dual-2 missile and the first Aegis baseline 9.C2.0 BMD-5.1 intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target using the SM-6 Dual-2 with software upgrade. The medium-range ballistic missile launches from PMRF and rises above the horizon. Immediately, the Aegis Assure SPY-1 radar located on Kauai identifies and tracks the test target as it enters the radar search fence. The USS Daniel Inouye SPY-1 radar identifies the incoming object and using advanced tracking and discrimination confirms the threat. The Aegis weapon system develops a fire control solution and the crew of the destroyer prepares to engage the target, utilizing two SM-6 Dual-2 missiles. Big Sticks Away The USS Daniel Inouye launches the two SM-6 interceptors. The Aegis ship provides guidance information and illumination to support the interceptors as they soar toward the target. Mark India The SM-6 Dual-2 intercepts the medium-range ballistic missile. Potential U.S. adversaries are developing advanced ballistic and non-ballistic missile systems, making them more mobile, survivable, reliable, accurate and capable of achieving longer ranges. To counter this full spectrum of missile threats, the Missile Defense Agency, along with its many partners, is proving the power of missile defense through testing and delivering advanced missile defense capabilities to America's warfighters. Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense On Target