U.S. Intercepts Two Ballistic Missiles for the First Time During Military Exercises

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U.S. Intercepts Two Ballistic Missiles for the First Time During Military

Exercises

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

HONOLULU - In what engineers called a first, the U.S. military destroyed

two ballistic missile targets simultaneously in space 100 miles (161

kilometers) above the Pacific Ocean in a test.

Engineers said it was the first time the U.S. missile defense system had

shot down two ballistic missile targets at once.

The USS Lake Erie fired two interceptors to shoot down two short-range

ballistic missiles fired within minutes of one another from a testing range

on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

The targets were short-range missiles and did not separate in flight, unlike

longer range missiles.

The event builds on an April test in which a Navy ship intercepted one

cruise missile and one ballistic missile.

But Tuesday's test was more challenging because ballistic missiles travel at

greater speeds and higher altitudes than cruise missiles, making them harder

to shoot down.

"The tests are set up to have more and more operational realism," said

Joseph Rappisi, director of maritime missile defense programs at Lockheed

Martin.

The test marked the 10th and 11th successful intercepts by the Aegis

ballistic missile defense system in 13th attempts, the Missile Defense

Agency said in a statement.

Aegis was developed as an integrated radar and missile system for the Navy

some 40 years ago but has since been modified to enable ships to track and

shoot down ballistic missiles.

By 2009, the U.S. Navy plans to install ballistic missile tracking and

interception capabilities on 18 cruisers and destroyers. Sixteen of the

vessels are assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

A Japanese navy Aegis-equipped ship, the Kongo, joined Tuesday's test by

tracking the missile targets.

The Kongo also simulated firing its own interceptors in preparation for

another test off Hawaii next month in which it will attempt to intercept a

missile itself. If successful, the event would mark the first time Japan has

ever intercepted a ballistic missile.