Project officials on the Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile programme are preparing for the next anti-ballistic missile test, set for late next month. They hope to maintain the momentum generated by two back-to-back THAAD test successes.
The missile scored its second success on 2 August. It intercepted a simulated ballistic missile booster with a separating warhead that was outside the earth's atmosphere for the first time. All parts of the THAAD, including the radar, battle management command and control segment, launcher and missile, were used. The test successes are crucial to Lockheed Martin in avoiding further penalty fees, with the potential for up to $75 million in assessments through to the end of the year.
Source: Flight International