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New test success for THAAD
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- A THAAD missile successfully brought down an in-flight target Monday during an intercept test over the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Missile Defense agency said.
The target missile was destroyed in the the Earth's atmosphere 5 minutes after it was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai, Hawaii, the agency said.
"Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the THAAD system developed a fire control solution and launched an interceptor missile, which acquired and successfully intercepted the target missile," it said. "The intercept occurred at the lowest altitude to date for the THAAD interceptor missile …"
The Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is part of the country's Ballistic Missile Defense System, and has both low-altitude and high-altitude capabilities. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for THAAD. Other companies involved include Raytheon.
The agency said the launch of the THAAD missile, which destroys its target by kinetic impact, was conducted by soldiers who weren't made aware of the actual launch time of the target missile.
The test was the seventh consecutive successful intercept for the operationally configured system, the agency said.
WASHINGTON, (UPI) -- A THAAD missile successfully brought down an in-flight target Monday during an intercept test over the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Missile Defense agency said.
The target missile was destroyed in the the Earth's atmosphere 5 minutes after it was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai, Hawaii, the agency said.
"Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the THAAD system developed a fire control solution and launched an interceptor missile, which acquired and successfully intercepted the target missile," it said. "The intercept occurred at the lowest altitude to date for the THAAD interceptor missile …"
The Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is part of the country's Ballistic Missile Defense System, and has both low-altitude and high-altitude capabilities. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for THAAD. Other companies involved include Raytheon.
The agency said the launch of the THAAD missile, which destroys its target by kinetic impact, was conducted by soldiers who weren't made aware of the actual launch time of the target missile.
The test was the seventh consecutive successful intercept for the operationally configured system, the agency said.
