Planes over water

AIR FORCE PHOTOS

Missile Defense Agency FTO-01 Flight Test

The second of two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors is launched during a successful intercept test, which was conducted by the Missile Defense Agency, Ballistic Missile Defense System Operational Test Agency, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, and U.S. Pacific Command, in conjunction with Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment; Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Decatur; and Airmen from the 613th Air and Operations Center resulted in the intercept of one medium-range ballistic missile target by THAAD, and one medium-range ballistic missile target by Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense. The second THAAD interceptor was launched at the target destroyed by Aegis BMD as a contingency in the event the SM-3 did not achieve an intercept. The test, designated Flight Test Operational-01, stressed the ability of the Aegis BMD and THAAD weapon systems to function in a layered defense architecture and defeat a raid of two near-simultaneous ballistic missile targets. (Missile Defense Agency courtesy photo)

PHOTO BY: Ralph Scott
VIRIN: 151010-F-FZ712-555.JPG
FULL SIZE: 0.22 MB
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