WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., May 12 (UPI) -- The entire U.S. THAAD anti-missile system has been tested for the first time with all objectives reported received.
The test Thursday involved the simulated detection of an incoming missile and its ultimate destruction by the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) radar, fire-control system and interceptor rocket.
Industry officials said the test was the first flight test to engage the entire system at the same time.
"We achieved a major milestone today by successfully testing all of the elements of the THAAD system and proving the system's capability," said Lockheed Martin Vice President Tom McGrath. "The THAAD flight demonstrations will continue to grow in difficulty and we are eager to press forward."
Raytheon said in a statement after the test that its phased-array radar and fire-control system was able to transmit tracking and discrimination reports from the ground to the interceptor in flight, and the software it developed with Lockheed performed smoothly. Raytheon Vice President Pete Franklin called the radar "mission ready."
THAAD is designed to protect military units in the field from attacks by ballistic missiles. The system is deployable and requires a relatively small number of personnel to operate; the crew for Thursday's test at White Sands Missile Range included five U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Bliss and an unspecified number of civilian technicians.
The test was the second flight test for THAAD since flight testing resumed last fall. Three more tests are scheduled at White Sands, after which the program will shift to the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii.
