The U.S. military said it had successfully tested a missile-shield component built by Lockheed Martin Corp. on Wednesday, to shoot down a ballistic missile in the last minute or so of its flight.
The so-called Terminal High Altitude Area Defence weapon system, or THAAD, "exceeded its objectives" in the long-planned test by shooting down a non-separating Hera target missile at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. THAAD, which is still being developed, is to be part of a layered shield meant to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
"Initial indications are that all planned flight test objectives were achieved" - Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency.
This marked the third successful THAAD developmental flight test since such testing resumed in November 2005. The remaining flight test is verifying the system's capabilities at "increasingly difficult levels".
