Posted on: Friday, January 25, 2002

Missile defense faces test today off Kaua'i

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Navy ship USS Lake Erie, on station several hundred miles from Hawai'i, will try to shoot down a Standard Missile-3 to be fired today from the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

The Erie will track the rocket with Aegis SPY-1 radar and will launch a prototype interceptor weapon designed to hit the rocket, which will be fired from the West Kaua'i Navy test range.

Military officials said that while they expect the Erie's weapon to hit the rocket, the intent of the test is simply to evaluate the weapon's guidance system.

Today's launch is the last in a series of preliminary tests, which will lead to more advanced testing of the interceptor's guidance, navigation and control abilities. The first of the new series is to be launched this spring.

The testing is part of the U.S. military's effort to develop a defense against incoming long-distance enemy rockets.

Such testing may violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. President Bush has informed Russia that he intends withdraw the United States from that treaty.

Advertiser news services contributed to this report.