The U. S. military conducted another test on Sunday, July 30, of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic system amid increasing missi
The U. S. military conducted another test on Sunday, July 30, of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic system amid increasing missile launches from North Korea. The latest of North Korea’s missiles launches, and its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) , was reported Friday.
The test took place over the Pacific Ocean using a medium-range target ballistic missile (MRBM) that was air-launched by a U. S. Air Force C-17 aircraft. The THAAD weapon system, located at Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak, Alaska, detected, tracked, and intercepted the target, according to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) .
The MDA described the test as “successful.”
In a statement by MDA director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves, he said the test will help the United States deal with “the evolving threat.”
“In addition to successfully intercepting the target, the data collected will allow MDA to enhance the THAAD weapon system, our modeling and simulation capabilities, and our ability to stay ahead of the evolving threat, ” said Greaves.
The test comes after Gen. Terrence J. O’ Shaughnessy, U. S. Pacific Air Forces commander recently said that the United States is prepared to use “rapid, lethal and overwhelming force, ” against North Korea if necessary.
