WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has reported a successful test in its missile defense development program.

The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization said a prototype interceptor intercepted and destroyed an intercontinental ballistic missile target in a test launch over the Pacific Ocean on late Monday. It was the third successful intercept in five attempts for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense Segment, formerly known as National Missile Defense. Over the weekend the test was postponed twice because of poor weather.

Pentagon officials said the ICBM was destroyed 10 minutes after the interceptor was launched, at an altitude in excess of 140 miles above the earth, and during the midcourse phase of the target warhead's flight. They said the exoatmospheric kill vehicle located, tracked and intercepted the ICBM by slamming into the target missile.

"The test successfully demonstrated exoatmospheric kill vehicle flight performance and hit to kill technology to intercept and destroy a long-range ballistic missile target," a BMDO statement said.

The statement said the interception comprised the integration of space and ground-based sensors and radars. This included the operation of the Battle Management, Command Control and Communications, which detected the launch of the target missile.

In addition, the test integrated the prototype X-Band radar to provide precise target data to the interceptor. The radar provided the EKV Ñ which separated from its rocket booster more than 1,400 miles from the target warhead -- with data to locate and track the target.

The EKV was able to distinguish between the target missile and a decoy balloon, officials said. But a C-band transponder aboard the target warhead did not provide any tracking or targeting information to the interceptor after the interceptor was launched.

"We will continue to pursue this testing regime to achieve a layered approach to missile defense, using different architectures to deter the growing threat of ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction," the statement said.

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