WASHINGTON: The US military has conducted its "most challenging test to date" of its ballistic missile defence (BMD) system successfully officials said on Friday.
"Initial indications are that all components performed as designed," said
The Missile Defence Agency (MDA), in a statement describing the procedure over the Pacific Ocean that saw the latest Aegis BMD weapon system successfully intercepts an ntermediate-range threat missile.
"The two demonstrations Space Tracking and Surveillance Satellites (STSS), launched by MDA in 2009, successfully acquired the target missile, providing stereo 'birth to death' tracking of the target," the agency added.
The ground-based defence system is meant to shield the United States from a potential ballistic missile attack, possibly from North Korea or Iran.
It has, however, suffered high-profile setbacks in the form of failed multiple tests, including in December when an interceptor rocket meant to knock out incoming ballistic missiles failed in a test for the second time in a row.
Out of 15 tests of ground-based interceptors since 1999, seven have failed, the Missile Defence Agency noted at the time.
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