US Conducts Theater Defense Missile TestThe US military shot down a target ballistic missile with Patriot PAC-3 missiles in a test over New Mexico State Saturday, March 31.The test over White Sands Missile Range involved firing two PAC- 3 missiles against a Hera ballistic missile as well as firing an earlier generation PAC-2 against its own target. It was the seventh successful "hit-to-kill" interception in a row for the upgraded 5.2-meter version of the Patriot used against Iraqi Scud missiles in the Gulf War. Unlike a planned US missile defense effort to protect the whole country from long-range attack, the theater defense program is designed to protect US troops and bases from short and medium- range "theater" missiles. |
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