The US military successfully intercepted a Scud-type missile during another test of a new missile meant to knock down ballistic missiles during their final minutes of flight.
The test involved the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) element of the system, said the Missile Defence Agency.
The intercept was successfully completed at approximately 3:15 am (1245 IST) off the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
The primary objective of the test was to demonstrate integrated operations of the system, including radar, launcher, fire control equipment and procedures, and the interceptor to detect, track and destroy the target missile using only the force of a direct collision between the interceptor and the target missile hit-to-kill technology, the military said.
The military says it already can shoot down missiles in their last stage of flight by using Patriot anti-missile batteries. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system would be able to protect larger areas than the Patriot system because it intercepts targets at a higher altitude.
The new system had its first successful test last year at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and two more successful tests earlier this year at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai.
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