A missile-defense vehicle successfully intercepted its target weapon Monday after a Vandenberg Space Force Base launch to demonstrate an ability to engage a threat faster in flight. 

The upgraded three-stage interceptor popped out its silo on North Base at 6:48 a.m. after the test’s two-hour window opened at 6:30 a.m.

A short time earlier, the military had fired the target, an intermediate range ballistic missile, or IRBM, launched from an aircraft flying over the Pacific Ocean.

The Missile Defense Agency said the test employed an upgraded ground-based interceptor topped with the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle designed to seek out the target. 

While using a three-stage interceptor missile, crews ordered the third stage not to ignite, aiming to allow earlier release of the kill vehicle to hit the target.

Monday’s test involved the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element designed to protect against limited, intermediate- and long-range missile attacks against the United States by rogue nations.

The system has interceptors sitting on alert at Vandenberg and in Alaska.

“The primary objective of the test was to demonstrate the ability of GMD to engage a target in the expanded engagement space made possible by the GBI in two-stage mode,” Missile Defense Agency representatives said in a written statement. 

Along with multiple military organizations, several defense contractors made up the team involved in the test including Boeing.

“This successful test is important because it opens up the window of opportunity to intercept threats to our homeland,” said Debbie Barnett, vice president of Strategic Missile & Defense Systems for Boeing. “We’re committed to continuously enhancing the GMD system’s capability to meet rapidly evolving missile defense needs for the nation.”

For Monday’s test, a number of other military assets also participated, including the Army Navy/ Transportable Radar Surveillance Model-2 Forward Based Mode and Sea-Based X-Band radar with upgrades. 

“This successful intercept utilizing the 2-/3-stage selectable ground based interceptor capability in 2-stage mode provides the warfighter with increased battlespace that supports additional shot opportunities to negate an incoming threat missile,” said MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins. 

“The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we continue to provide enhanced capabilities for our existing ground based interceptor fleet while we rapidly design and deliver the leap-ahead technology of the Next Generation Interceptor.”

Northrop Grumman Corporation said the GMD ground system processed data from multiple sensors to identify and characterize the inbound IRBM threat, devised a defensive solution and launched the interceptor.

“As the threat landscape advances, it’s critical to ensure our homeland defense systems are tested and proven in the event of an attack,” said Scott Lehr, Northrop Grumman vice president of launch and missile defense systems. “This successful test demonstrates we are ready and have confidence in the MDA’s end-to-end missile defense solutions that are deployed today.” 

Since Jan. 1, Vandenberg has conducted more than 30 rocket launches and missile tests for a big boost in missions from the base. 

“We’ve witnessed significant growth this year, doubling our launch cadence from last year,” said Col. Bryan Titus, Space Launch Delta 30 operations vice commander and the launch decision authority for the MDA test. 

“It is vital that we continue to expand our capacity and foster greater agility for our space and test range partners and in every aspect of space launch operations.”