Washington: The United States plans to carry out a new test of its THAAD missile defence system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the coming days, two US officials told Reuters on Friday, as tensions with North Korea climb.
Despite being planned months ago, the US missile defence test will gain significance in the wake of North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4 that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang.
The test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.
The United States has THAAD interceptors in Guam that are meant to help guard against a missile attack from a country such as North Korea.
The officials who disclosed to Reuters the precise nature and timing of the test spoke on condition of anonymity.
Asked by Reuters, the US Missile Defense Agency confirmed that it aimed to carry out a THAAD flight test "in early July."
Chris Johnson, a spokesman at the Missile Defense Agency, said the THAAD weapon system at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska, would "detect, track and engage a target with a THAAD interceptor."
"The test is designated as Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-18," Johnson said, without elaborating.
In May testimony to Congress, however, Vice Admiral James Syring, then the director of the Missile Defense Agency, said FTT-18 would aim to demonstrate THAAD's ability to intercept a separating IRBM target.
THAAD is a ground-based missile defence system that defends against short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the terminal stage of flight.
Syring, in his testimony, said THAAD had a 100 percent successful track record in its 13 flight tests so far.
Lockheed Martin Corp is the prime contractor for the THAAD system.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by James Dalgleish)
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Despite being planned months ago, the US missile defence test will gain significance in the wake of North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4 that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang.
The test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.
The officials who disclosed to Reuters the precise nature and timing of the test spoke on condition of anonymity.
Advertisement
Chris Johnson, a spokesman at the Missile Defense Agency, said the THAAD weapon system at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska, would "detect, track and engage a target with a THAAD interceptor."
Advertisement
In May testimony to Congress, however, Vice Admiral James Syring, then the director of the Missile Defense Agency, said FTT-18 would aim to demonstrate THAAD's ability to intercept a separating IRBM target.
Advertisement
Syring, in his testimony, said THAAD had a 100 percent successful track record in its 13 flight tests so far.
Advertisement
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by James Dalgleish)
© Thomson Reuters 2017
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
North Korea To Open Borders For Foreign Tourists In December North Korea Is Launching More Trash-Filled Balloons Southward: South Korea Canadian North Korea Expert Detained In Switzerland On Espionage Charges Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP This US City Has Been Declared America's Least Desirable, Survey Finds "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.