THAAD Intercepts, Destroys Target Over Pacific

Chalk up another hit for Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports THAAD successfully intercepted and destroyed a target missile over the Pacific Ocean last week.

In the latest test, a US Navy ship off the coast of Hawaii launched a target missile, similar to an Iraqi Scud. An Army missile-tracking station detected the missile within 2.5 minutes, according to Lockheed, and a THAAD was launched to intercept it -- which it appears to have done, outside the Earth's atmosphere.

"From all the data we've seen it looks like all of our goals were met," said Tom McGrath, vice president and program manager for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, of the test last Friday.

In the works for two decades, the long-troubled THAAD is designed specifically to defend against short to intermediate range ballistic missiles. The system comprises a number of components to identify, track and destroy inbound ballistic missile warheads. THAAD is a "hit-to-kill" system. It carries no explosives, using only kinetic energy from a direct impact to vaporize its target.

Center for Defense Information analyst Philip Coyle, who is also the former director of weapons testing at the Pentagon, says the test shows Lockheed has made progress... but more sophisticated tests are needed, including tracking more than one missile. Coyle also notes the system radar must be able to discern between a warhead and other debris.

McGrath told the Star-Telegram more challenging tests are scheduled next year.

FMI: www.lmco.com