MDA: The Army “successfully intercepted its first medium-range ballistic target in history”

From Sam Fellman, Navy Times:  The final score: Army 3; Navy 1.

That’s the number of missiles each service shot down in the largest missile shield test ever, a joint exercise held in the western Pacific on Oct. 24. The Army shot down two ballistic missiles and one cruise missile at Kwajalein Atoll.

In contrast, the destroyer Fitzgerald engaged a cruise missile but missed the ballistic one. The reasons for the miss are unclear, but the Missile Defense Agency chalked up the whole exercise as a success.

MDA said that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system operated by the Army “successfully intercepted its first medium-range ballistic target in history,” according to an Oct. 25 news release. . . .

“The Aegis system also tracked and launched an SM-3 Block 1A interceptor against a short-range ballistic missile,” the press release said. “However, despite indication of a nominal flight of the SM-3 Block 1A interceptor, there was no indication of an intercept.” (graphic: Navy Times)