Washington. July 25. INTERFAX-The United States conducted another test of the Aegis sea-based missile defense system to the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands, during which it was possible to intercept only one of two simultaneously launched short-range ballistic missiles, the US Missile Defense Agency reported.
"The purpose of the FTM-33 test was to intercept a group of two short-range ballistic missiles at once with the help of four Standard Missile-6 Dual II (SM-6 Dual II) anti-missiles," the report says.
The launch of interceptor missiles at targets was carried out from the US Navy missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114).
"According to preliminary data, one target was successfully intercepted. At the moment, we cannot confirm that the second target was also destroyed, " the US military said.
It is noted that the FTM-33 test was the most difficult mission of the Agency for Missile Defense in recent times. It was conducted using an Aegis missile defense system ship equipped with the latest SM-6 Dual II anti-missile systems.
On May 29, during flight tests, two new SM-6 Dual II interceptors failed to intercept a target in the form of a medium-range training ballistic missile with a salvo from the ship at once. According to the Agency for Missile Defense, "the purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the ability of the ship with the Aegis missile defense system, designed to protect against ballistic missiles, to detect, track, hit and intercept a target in the form of a medium-range ballistic missile with a volley of two Standard Missile-6 Dual II anti-missiles. There was no interception."
