September 12, 2018: A Standard Missile -3 Block IB

September 12, 2018: A Standard Missile -3 Block IB Threat Upgrade (SM-3 Blk IB TU) missile launches from the Japan destroyer, JS ATAGO (DDG-177) during Japan Flight Test Mission-05 (JFTM-05). The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced the successful completion of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) intercept flight test, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii. The event, designated Japan Flight Test Mission-05 (JFTM-05), was conducted in order to demonstrate a successful engagement of a target missile from the JS ATAGO using the sea-based midcourse engagement capability provided by Aegis BMD.