US missile defence test fails in Hawaii with 'military unable to shoot down incoming target'
Test comes amid heightened tensions with North Korea
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A test of America’s missile defence systems in Hawaii has reportedly failed to shoot down its target, against the backdrop of heightened tensions with North Korea.
An exercise conducted by the Missile Defence Agency was unsuccessful, with the military unable to shoot down an incoming missile launched from an aircraft, multiple outlets reported.
A Department of Defence representative confirmed a drill had taken place without responding to questions about whether it had accomplished its objectives.
“The Missile Defense Agency and US Navy sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) conducted a live-fire missile flight test using a Standard-Missile (SM)-3 Block IIA missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, Wednesday morning,” Lt Col Michelle Baldanza said in an email to The Independent.
North Korean aggression has raised the stakes for America’s ability to repel missile attacks, with the isolated regime launching a series of ballistic missile tests and claiming it has the ability to strike anywhere on the US mainland.
A test in May successfully intercepted and destroyed a medium-range missile, the Pentagon said at the time, the first live-fire test of defending against an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Unnamed officials said that they were avoiding commenting publicly on the more recent, failed test because of tensions with North Korea, according to CNN.
Earlier this month an erroneous alert of an incoming missile briefly threw Hawaii into a panic.
An employee who triggered the false alarm has been fired and the head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has resigned as a result.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments