Analysis of flight data is continuing to determine the cause of the Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile test failure on 22 March.
A THAAD prototype failed to hit its ballistic missile target - the second failure in two intercept attempts. During the test, which took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the missile flew past the target after its in-flight command and control functions failed to operate, says the US Army.
It was then destroyed so that missile debris would not land outside the test range.
Programme officials are trying to determine whether missile components failed or whether the THAAD ground-based radar malfunctioned. The test was the fifth for the THAAD.
A software glitch caused a THAAD missile to miss a Storm target in the 13 December, 1995 test, the THAAD's fourth and the first of 11 planned intercepts.
The THAAD is designed to engage theatre ballistic missiles at high altitudes and long ranges using hit-to-kill technology. Lockheed Martin is working under a $689 million research and development contract. The Pentagon wants to delay THAAD production by about two years and shave spending on the weapon by $1.7 billion.
Source: Flight International