US Military Successfully Tests Ballistic Missile Defense System

The Pentagon confirmed the successful testing of the Ballistic Missile Defense System conducted by the military in a joint exercise on June 22.

This test was the 65th successful hit-to-kill intercept out of 81 attempts since 2001.

"This is a very important step in our continuing efforts to improve and increase the reliability of our homeland Ballistic Missile Defense System," Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. James D. Syring said in the statement.

A long-range, ground-based interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and successfully intercepted a simulated incoming ballistic missile threat launched from a test site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, colliding over the Pacific Ocean.

The Pentagon says initially it appears that all the systems and components performed as expected, and will spend the next several months conducting an extensive evaluation based upon telemetry and other data it got during the test.

"We'll continue efforts to ensure our deployed ground-based interceptors and our overall homeland defensive architecture continue to provide the warfighter an effective and dependable system to defend the country," Syring said.

A number of US government and military defense agencies participated in the joint exercise, including the Missile Defense Agency, the Air Force 30th Space Wing, U.S. Northern Command, the Army and the Navy.