Wednesday, October 5, 2011

THAAD Weapon System Achieves Intercept of Two Targets

The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, The Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Army conducted a flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system today, challenging the system to track, detect and intercept two different targets utilizing two THAAD interceptors - a first for the system.

The flight test, known as FTT-12, was designated an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation test by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation and the Army Test and Evaluation Command will also independently evaluate the operational effectiveness of the system. It was conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii.

During the mission, the first THAAD missile intercepted an air-launched short-range ballistic missile target. The second THAAD missile intercepted a sea-launched short-range ballistic missile target a short time later. Since 2005, the program has completed 12 flight tests, with nine-for-nine intercepts.