US Outer Space Missile Interceptor and Targeting System Pass Test

An interceptor rocket and its ground-based targeting system successfully completed the latest test in a program to develop a missile defense capable of hitting targets on the edge of outer space, two companies involved in the project said in separate announcements on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Orbital ATK provided the interceptor rocket, which was guided by Northrup Grumman’s targeting equipment and software, in what both companies called a successful test on Thursday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

"Our system determines which threat to engage, builds the threat picture, allocates resources and provides and updates the information guiding the kill vehicle," Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Vice President Dan Verwiel said in one announcement.

In a separate announcement, Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division Vice President Rich Straka said the exercise marked the fourteenth successful flight of its interceptor rocket.

The test targeted an air-launched threat released from a US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft.

The exercise was designed to test in-flight communications between Northrup Grumman’s battle management equipment and Orbital ATK’s interceptor rocket, without the interceptor actually striking the target, according to the announcements.

The defense system is designed to destroy missiles before they re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.