Navy intercepts 2 ballistic missiles in test

[unhappycamper]

Navy intercepts 2 ballistic missiles in test
By Audrey McAvoy - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 7, 2007 21:57:53 EST

HONOLULU — The Navy on Tuesday night destroyed two ballistic missile targets simultaneously in space 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean in a test.

Engineers say it’s the first time the U.S. missile defense system has shot down two ballistic missiles at once outside the earth’s atmosphere.

The test demonstrates the system can shoot down targets in operationally realistic conditions, officials said.

“The adversary may not shoot one ballistic missile at us or an ally at a time,” said Navy Rear Adm. Alan B. Hicks, program director for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. “So the ability to engage more than one simultaneously is very important to us and validates what we built the system to do.”

The cruiser Lake Erie fired two interceptors to shoot down two ballistic missiles launched within moments of one another from a testing range on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

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The test marked the 10th and 11th successful intercepts by the Aegis ballistic missile defense system in 13 attempts, the Missile Defense Agency said in a statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_missiledefense_071107/