The United States intercepted one of two targets in a missile defense test conducted over the ocean northwest of Hawaii on Saturday, the US Missile Defense Agency said in a news release.
The agency said that it could not confirm whether the second target had been destroyed. Missile defense tests are an opportunity to upgrade technology, but also to display the power of US defenses on the global arena. The Missile Defense Agency’s stated mission is to develop a multi-layered system that could be used to protect the United States and its military forces, as well as US allies.
“Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 33” held on Saturday aimed to intercept two short-range ballistic missile targets with two other missiles launched from a US Navy warship. The agency said the test was the most complicated mission it has carried out so far.
