U.S. Department of Defense - Missile Defense Agency

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Missile Defense Agency

MDA News Release

www.mda.mil
mda.info@mda.mil
5700 18th Street, Bldg 245
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5573

Missile Defense Test Conducted

09-NEWS-0024
December 11, 2009

A planned test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system scheduled to be conducted from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii, was not able to be completed today due to an anomaly with the target missile.

The target missile was successfully deployed from a C-17 transport aircraft but the target's rocket motor did not ignite. The THAAD interceptor missile was not launched; however, the system's fire control system conducted a number of successful simulations. All THAAD system components were verified to be in working order, and the system was ready to conduct the mission.

Program officials will conduct an extensive investigation to determine the cause of the anomaly.