WASHINGTON — A U.S. missile defense system sought by several Middle
East countries has intercepted a missile with a separating warhead.
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A test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) successfully intercepted a warhead on June 25.
Lockheed Martin
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In the first such achievement, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense,
or THAAD, shot down a target warhead that separated from the booster
missile.
The June 25 test, which took place at the Pacific Missile Range
Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii, marked the fifth successful
intercept for the THAAD program in five attempts.
Several Middle East states, including Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates, have been briefed on THAAD, Middle East Newsline reported. The UAE was said to
have relayed its interest to purchase a THAAD system over the next year.
"The primary objective of this highly operationally realistic test was
to demonstrate target acquisition, tracking and aimpoint selection by the
avionics software contained in the THAAD interceptor, and to intercept a
separating target," the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.
