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US Aegis ballistic missile defense system completes successful intercept flight test

This is the 29th successful intercept in 35 flight test attempts for the Aegis BMD program which began in 2002
An interceptor missile launch (archive) AP Photo/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, HO
An interceptor missile launch (archive)
© AP Photo/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, HO

WASHINGTON, November 7. /TASS/. The United States has successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system which saw three near-simultaneous target engagements over the Pacific Ocean, the US Missile Defense Agency has reported.

“One short-range ballistic missile target was intercepted by a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB guided missile, while two low-flying cruise missile targets were engaged by Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IIIA guided missiles near-simultaneously,” the agency said in a statement released on Thursday.

All the three targets were launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii, and later detected by a radar which is part of the Aegis system.

“Program officials will evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test,” the statement says.

This is the 29th successful intercept in 35 flight test attempts for the Aegis BMD program which began in 2002.

The agency said will use the test results to “improve and enhance the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and support the advancement of Phase 2 of the Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defense in Europe to provide protection of U.S. deployed forces and our European allies and partners.