Global Security Newswire

Australia's first Aegis missile-defense system began testing Wednesday at a New Jersey facility operated by the weapon's U.S. manufacturer, defense contractor Lockheed Martin (see GSN, Nov. 27, 2006).

The sea-based Aegis is slated to undergo four months of tests before being sent to a shipyard in Adelaide, Australia, Lockheed said in a release. There, it would be mounted on the first of three destroyers scheduled to receive the system.

The Aegis radar and missile system has been deployed on 91 ships in the navies of nations including Japan, Norway, South Korea, Spain and the United States, according to Lockheed. It can be used "to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space," the release states (Lockheed Martin release, Aug. 12).