Pentagon announces success of regular NMD tests

The Pentagon has announced success of the test of a sea-based interceptor missile, held on Saturday within the framework of developing the national antiballistic missile defense system. A spokesman for the American Defense Department said that the missile has hit the training target, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the spokesman, the test consisted in verifying operation of the interceptor missile's control and homing system. The system has worked OK, said the Pentagon spokesman.

It is the first NMD test after President George W.Bush declared America's withdrawal from the 1972 ABM Treaty. The training-target ballistic missile was launched from a proving ground on a Hawaii island. The Lake Erie missile cruiser detected the target by its on-board radar and, eight minutes after the target missile was launched, a Standard Missile 3 interceptor missile was fired off. Ten minutes later it hit the target, said the Pentagon spokesman.

It is the first test of an interceptor missile leaving the Earth's atmosphere.

The United States has carried out four of the scheduled nine tests of ABM sea-based elements.