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THAAD shoots down missile from C-17

KAPAA, Hawaii — The U.S. military’s ground-based missile defense system destroyed a missile launched from an airplane Wednesday in the first successful test of the system’s ability to destroy a separating target.

The interceptor missile launched off Kauai had to differentiate between the warhead and the body of the missile before destroying it above the Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

This was the fifth successful intercept in five attempts since 2005 for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, the agency said. Another test in September 2006 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., was not completed due to a malfunction of the target missile, and no intercept was attempted.

The system used a mobile launcher at Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility to shoot down a target representing a threat ballistic missile, said Lt. Gen. Henry “Trey” Obering.

The threat missile was launched from an Air Force C-17 flying over the Pacific Ocean. The interceptor missile was fired six minutes later.

Like the Patriot anti-missile defenses, THAAD is designed to knock out ballistic missiles in their final minute of flight.

Unlike the Patriot system, however, it is designed to intercept targets at higher altitudes, which enables it to defend a larger area.

This was the 35th successful test in 43 attempts in the atmosphere and in space since 2001, according to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Since September 2005, the military has successfully completed 29 of 30 attempts.

THAAD is one of two missile defense systems being tested at the Navy’s Hawaii missile range.

The sea-based Aegis system completed its own successful test June 5.