THE LOCKHEED Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile failed on 6 March to destroy a simulated ballistic target, its fourth misfire in as many intercept attempts, jeopardising the future of the multi-billion dollar weapons programme.
The latest test was originally due in December 1996, but the intercept attempt at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, was delayed because of a problem discovered during a pre-flight check of the missile's inertial-measurement unit. Other intercept test failures occurred in July and March 1996 and December 1995.
The US Department of Defense says that "-an intercept was not achieved-Analysis of the flight data is continuing to determine the cause of the malfunction. Although the THAAD missile missed the target, the test did yield valuable information which will be used to determine what corrections are required".
It adds, however, that "preliminary indications are that the THAAD radar and command and control system performed normally in this test."
A decision on whether to proceed into the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the hit-to-kill weapon has been set for this month, and it is unclear what impact the setback will have on the THAAD schedule.
Paul Kaminiski, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, had warned that the THAAD schedule might slip substantially if the latest intercept attempt were to fail.
Source: Flight International