A critical test of the US Army Lockheed Martin Theater High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) was aborted on 25 May after the Hera target missile malfunctioned because of an attitude control problem before the hit-to-kill missile was launched from the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The test has not been rescheduled.
The THAAD missile has failed to intercept targets in all six flight tests since 1995. Lockheed Martin agreed to a $15 million penalty for the last test failure in March. The pact calls on Lockheed Martin to score two test successes by 30 June or lose an additional $20 million. In all, the US aerospace firm could face $75 million in penalties by the end of the year.
Source: Flight International