Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum Completes At-Sea Demonstration 2016

Courtesy Photo | 160716-O-ZZ999-003 KAUA'I, Hawaii (July 16, 2016) A Single-Stage Lynx target is launched from Pacific Missile Range Facility during the live-fire phase of the Maritime Theater Missile Defense At-Sea Demonstration 2016 and held in conjunction with Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo)  

UNITED STATES

07.16.2016

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, Kaua'i - The Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum completed the live-fire phase of At-Sea Demonstration 2016 during an exercise held on Pacific Missile Range Facility off the coast of Kaua’i, Hawaii and held in conjunction with Rim of the Pacific 2016, July 16.

ASD 16 is a continuation of ASD 15 and focuses heavily on air defense, coalition interoperability and leveraging simultaneous supersonic and subsonic targets.

The MTMD Forum Surface Action Group included HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) and USS Howard (DDG 83). The Forum nations of Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Norway and United States, which are all nations participating in RIMPAC, provided staff at the range and Combined Air Operations Center.

Chairman of the Forum, Commodore Kees Boelema Robertus, who also serves as commander, Royal Netherlands Maritime Force, said ASD 16 includes new, complex scenarios and builds on the success of ASD 15.

“I speak on behalf of all Forum nations in expressing gratitude to the PMRF Range, the U.S. 3rd Fleet, and the entire Forum test team for their excellent preparation and execution of the event. I am looking forward to future test events together where we demonstrate further progress in coalition Integrated Air and Missile Defense interoperability,” said Robertus.

This was the first firing exercise at a U.S. Pacific Range for the MTMD Forum. ASD 16 included a series of Forum IAMD firsts, including the presentation and engagement of four simultaneous supersonic and subsonic air targets and the tracking of a supersonic Single Stage Lynx ballistic target.

Established in 1999, the MTMD Forum facilitates the ability of participating nations to improve interoperability and enhance individual and collective maritime integrated air and missile defense capabilities.

Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands is the world's largest instrumented multi-environmental range capable of supported surface, subsurface, air, and space operations simultaneously.

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2016
• Date Posted: 07.17.2016 22:04
• Story ID: 204203
• Location: US