LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Navy and the Missile Defense Agency hope to launch today the latest test of the U.S. military's sea-based anti-ballistic missile system, the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program.

It is the seventh test in the series, which is focused on short- to medium-range missiles. Today's test will be the first time the interceptor will try to knock down a separating rocket. All previous tests have been aimed at single-stage, nonseparating target rockets. Five of the previous intercept tests have resulted in contact with the target.

In this test, designated Flight Test Maritime 04-2, a target rocket will be launched from land, from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kaua'i. An intercepting missile will be fired from a Navy Aegis cruiser at sea off Kaua'i. The intercepting missile is a Standard Missile-3 Block 1.

If the test goes as planned, the Aegis ballistic missile defense technology on board the cruiser will detect the firing of the target rocket. It will then track it, and in a new challenge, differentiate between the stage that drops off and the warhead that continues onward. The system is designed to develop the information needed to hit the warhead, and then fire the Standard Missile-3 and send it on its intercept course.

The Aegis program is a joint project of the Missile Defense Agency and the Navy, and the program's prime contractor is Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors. Raytheon Missile Systems develops the Standard Missile-3.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.