The Pentagon (Photo AFP)Dummy Target Hit In Missile Defense Test -- L.A. Times
Pentagon declares it a success, though decoy 'countermeasures' fail to deploy in the encounter over the Pacific Ocean.
Reporting from Washington -- The Defense Department conducted a successful test of its missile defense system Friday, taking out a dummy target with an interceptor strike over the Pacific Ocean, an exercise officials hope will build support for the controversial initiative within the incoming Obama administration.
Military officials said the test showed for the first time that various radars and defense systems could be used together.
However, the success of the test was tempered by the failure of the dummy target to deploy planned "countermeasures" -- devices designed to try to throw off the interceptor. As a result, officials could not tell whether the system can distinguish between a warhead and decoys that probably would accompany an actual attack.
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More News On The Missile Test
US successfully tests anti-missile shield: Pentagon -- AFP
Military Launches Most Complex Missile Defense Test to Date -- U.S. Department Of Defense
US Shoots Downs Missile in Simulation of Long-Range Attack -- Washington Post
U.S. hails missile shield test but doubts remain -- Reuters
Pentagon Says It Destroyed Missile in Test of Air Shield -- New York Times
US Conducts Another Successful Missile Defense Test -- Voice Of America
Boeing-led Missile Defense Team Intercepts Target in Most Complex Test to Date -- Market Watch