Fly Before You Buy? Ok, So Now Can We Buy?

Ricky Trotman / July 01, 2010

On Tuesday, Lockheed Martin and the Missile Defense Agency successfully tested their Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System in Hawaii.  Since 2005 there have been 11 THAAD flight tests with a 100% success rate in intercepting a missile.

Not only did this test continue the perfect record of missile intercepts, but it demonstrated the ability to target a missile in the lower “endo-atmosphere.” While previous tests only have been attempted in the outer “exo-atmosphere,” this most recent test demonstrates the greatest level of operational flexibility yet achieved by U.S. missile defense systems. This has not been the only success as of late for the Missile Defense Agency. The Standard Missile-3 interceptor, used aboard naval ships, has been successful in nine out of the last ten tests. (more…)