US military successfully tests ballistic missile intercept system

The US military yesterday successfully shot down a medium-range ballistic missile  in a test of a new interceptor system. It is co-developed with Japan and has been dogged by previous failures.

   

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said  that sailors aboard the USS



John Finn successfully detected, tracked and targeted the rocket with an SM-3 Block IIA missile during a test off the west coast of Hawaii. 

 

The successful operation comes after two failed intercept tests, in June 2017 and January 2018.