Sea-Based X-Band Radar

Sea-Based X-Band Radar Completes First Phase of Sea Trials

Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency Director, announced today that the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) has successfully completed 12 days of at-sea testing and returned to Kiewit Offshore Services in Corpus Christi, Texas, on July 21, 2005. Tests included speed, maneuverability, personnel and cargo transfer, and verification of mission payloads

SBX-1 departed Corpus Christi on July 10 for a planned series of tests in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Emily’s arrival in the Gulf allowed the crew and shore support team to exercise weather avoidance plans and extended the mission by two days. While at sea the crew successfully conducted several major tests, including speed, maneuverability, personnel and cargo transfer, and continuing performance testing and verification of several key mission payloads.

The Missile Defense Agency is developing SBX-1 to serve as a primary radar for the Ballistic Missile Defense System. It will track ballistic missiles for testing and defensive operations.

SBX-1 stands 282 feet high and displaces more than 50,000 tons. Its on-board propulsion system allows it to self-deploy throughout the world’s oceans. It will home-port at Adak Island in Alaska’s Aleutian Island chain, but it also will have the capability to support both testing and operations throughout the entire Pacific Ocean region.

Source: The Missile Defense Agency 05-FYI-0057 Contact: Pam Rogers, Missile Defense Agency – 256-955-2952

more at Missile Defense or X-Band Radar and Radar or SBX-1 and defence