Trickiest U.S. Missile Defense Test Is Finally Ready to Launch
- Two-shot interceptor salvo is scheduled for Monday, people say
- Test will evaluate performance of a second warhead’s sensors
Source: AFP
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The Pentagon is about to attempt what’s likely to be the most challenging test yet of the U.S. military’s ability to shoot down an incoming missile from an adversary such as North Korea or Iran, according to three people familiar with the plans.
The Missile Defense Agency intends on Monday to fire two interceptors tipped with the latest Raytheon Co. warheads within seconds of each other in a test that hasn’t been publicly announced. The first interceptor would attempt to crash into a dummy target representing an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile. The second would use its sensors to detect another ICBM or other countermeasures.