The Pentagon said Wednesday it intercepted two ballistic missiles in a successful test of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system.
It was the first operational test of the system aimed at intercepting missiles at high altitude in the final stage of their trajectory, officials said.
The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said that in the exercise at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii, the system “engaged and simultaneously intercepted one short-range and one medium-range class ballistic missile target.”
Lockheed Martin, which designed the system, said the first THAAD missile intercepted an air-launched short-range ballistic missile target and the second intercepted a sea-launched short-range ballistic missile target a short time later.
“To make this a realistic tactical environment, the soldiers did not know what day or time the mission would occur,” Lockheed said in a statement.
This was the 12th test of THAAD since the program began in 2005 in an effort to boost the US missile shield alongside the Patriot, which targets missiles at low altitude.
The first THAAD system with six truck-mounted launchers, was delivered to the US military in May 2008. There should be five of these operating by 2013.
THAAD has drawn interest from US allies in the Gulf region, fearing a potential missile attack by Iran. The United Arab Emirates has indicated its intention to obtain a system worth $7 billion.
