Missile defense test fails to intercept target

The U.S. military is launching an extensive review of their missile defense system to determine why a flight test on Friday failed to intercept a target over the Pacific Ocean.

The Missile Defense Agency conducted an integrated exercise and flight test Friday of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense element of the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System. “Although a primary objective was the intercept of a long-range ballistic missile target launched from the U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, an intercept was not achieved,” the Department of Defense said in a press release. The interceptor missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. “Program officials will conduct an extensive review to determine the cause or causes of any anomalies which may have prevented a successful intercept.”

The Air Force 30th Space Wing, Joint Functional Component Command, Integrated Missile Defense and U.S. Northern Command participated in the test.

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