Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in defense, national security, and global markets, announced today its role in supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during the Japan Flight Test Experiment (JFTX)-01, conducted March 17 and 19 off the East Coast of the United States. JFTX-01 marks an important step in the testing of Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) Shipset 1, validating next-generation radar and missile defense capabilities. In collaboration with MDA and JMSDF, Kratos provided target vehicles for two tracking events, enabling the SPY-7 radar, a key next generation component of the Aegis Weapon System, to successfully detect, track, and deliver simulated engagement solutions. The exercise generated key datasets supporting system performance evaluation and risk reduction ahead of future ASEV development milestones. JFTX-01, led by MDA, showcased ongoing technological cooperation between Japan and the United States. Kratos target vehicles enabled the SPY-7 radar, built on technology derived from MDA’s Long Range Discrimination Radar, to collect critical data on search, detection, identification, and tracking in complex operational environments. The two live tracking events concluded with virtual target engagements, providing Japan and its partners with datasets needed to advance shipboard missile defense and inform future system deliveries.
“Our team’s proven ability to rapidly deliver reliable, mission-relevant target vehicles was central to the success of JFTX-01,” said Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services. “Kratos target vehicles provide realistic threat representation, ensuring allied navies can test and validate advanced tracking and engagement solutions with confidence.”
“At Kratos, we are dedicated to investing in and deploying real, mission-relevant products and systems that strengthen the capabilities of the U.S. warfighter and our allies,” said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos. “Our history of rapid development and fielding, combined with affordability as a technology, ensures that systems like Aegis are tested using operationally relevant target vehicles leading to maximum tactical readiness. This JFTX-01 achievement reaffirms Kratos’ leadership in advancing national and global security.”
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. is an American technology company with manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military electronics. It is headquartered in San Diego, California, United States.[3] Customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises and state and local government agencies. The company is divided into 6 divisions. Some of Kratos’ most recent products are part of a Pentagon effort to invest in businesses in Silicon Valley. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control and telemetry, tracking and control, jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, hypersonic vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter unmanned aircraft systems, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter.
