Americans for a Stronger Navy is a non profit group advocating for a robust US Navy to maintain the nation’s maritime superiority and safeguard its interests and peace through strength.
As part of its mission, the group highlights the importance of investing in advanced naval technologies and capabilities to ensure that the Navy remains ready and capable of defending against any potential threat.
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Mason (DDG 87) engage a GQM-163, supersonic target, launched by the NASA’s Wallops Fight Facility in Virginia using AEGIS combat system and SM-2 missiles.
The exercise took place on 27 March 2023, and the footage of the event was released by the Navy.
Philippine Sea and Mason are underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) with Carrier Strike Group TWO. SWATT is the surface force’s premiere advanced tactical training exercise, increasing warfighting capability and tactical proficiency across all domains.
Northrop Grumman
The US Navy has successfully destroyed the supersonic target GQM-163 Coyote during an exercise in the Atlantic Ocean near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
The GQM-163 Coyote is a high-performance target used for training purposes and was developed by Northrop Grumman for the US Navy to replace the MQM-8 Vandal. It is capable of reaching Mach 2.6 (3,210 km/h) at 5-9 meters and Mach 3-4 (3,700-4940 km/h) at 1.5-16.8 km altitude, with a range of 83km and the ability to reach 17km into the sky.
During the exercise, the US Navy used at least two Raytheon Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) interceptors to destroy the GQM-163 Coyote. The missiles were launched by the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87), both of which are equipped with the Aegis system.
The Aegis system leverages a combination of software, sensors, and weapons to detect, classify, track, and defeat threats. It integrates the flow of information from multiple ships and aircraft to comprehensively counter large-scale attacks.
The successful exercise demonstrated the effectiveness of the Aegis system and the SM-2 missiles in countering supersonic targets. The Navy’s ability to detect, track and destroy such high-performance targets is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of maritime operations.
Overall, the successful exercise is a testament to the US Navy’s commitment to maintaining a high level of readiness and preparedness in the face of potential threats. The Navy’s continued investment in advanced technologies and training exercises ensures that it remains capable of defending against any potential adversaries.
Source: The War Zone