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| Science & Technology |
| Pentagon Successfully Intercepts Incoming Test Missile |
| 2007-09-29 |
| Washington, D.C. (AHN) - From outer space, an interceptor missile destroyed an incoming warhead launched 17 minutes earlier during a test of its new ballistic missile defense system. It was the second time in less than two years the U.S. Missile Defense Agency has reported a successful test. Currently, the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system being developed by Boeing, the Pentagon, and other partners is America's only physical defense against long-range ballistic missiles. "Today's successful test is the team's second intercept in less than 13 months and further demonstrates GMD's evolution to a robust and reliable capability for the warfighter," Boeing Missile Defense Systems Vice President and General Manager Pat Shanahan said. "Team members are energized and focused as they continue to see the pivotal role they play in developing and deploying a missile defense system that protects the United States." According to Boeing, a long-range ballistic missile launched from a base in Alaska. Seventeen minutes later, an interceptor missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The interceptor received target data from a missile-warning radar base in California. The defense missile flew into space, fired its exoatmospheric kill vehicle, and destroyed the target warhead. "With another intercept under our belts, we have even greater confidence that the GMD system, if called upon in a real-world scenario, will defend the nation against a limited ballistic missile attack," Boeing Vice President and GMD Program Director Scott Fancher said. |
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