The next flight test of the Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon has been pushed into 1998, because of additional technical problems dogging the programme.
With four failures in as many attempts to intercept a target, project officials had hoped for a successful test in December. This fifth attempt was scrapped, however, after the hit-to-kill interceptor's inertial measurement unit (IMU), which provides critical guidance information to the seeker, was found to be providing abnormal readings indicative of a possible component failure.
The programme should move from the demonstration/validation stage to the engineering and manufacturing development phase in early 1999 once Lockheed Martin carries out successful intercepts.
Source: Flight International