Lockheed Martin Successfully Tests Entire THAAD Weapon System Today at White Sands Missile Range

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully conducted an integrated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) flight test at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM, today. This is the first developmental flight test to engage the entire THAAD weapon system including the THAAD interceptor, launcher, radar and fire control system.

Specific test objectives included demonstrating all major elements of the THAAD weapon system during engagement of a virtual target: interceptor launch and control; kill vehicle control in response to in-flight uplinks; seeker operation; and radar acquisition, track and in-flight communications with the interceptor. All test objectives were achieved.

"We achieved a major milestone today by successfully testing all of the elements of the THAAD system and proving the system’s capability," said Tom McGrath, program manager and vice president for THAAD at Lockheed Martin. "The THAAD flight demonstrations will continue to grow in difficulty and we are eager to press forward. We’re confident that the successful completion of these tests will yield a system we will be proud to turn over to our Warfighters."

U. S. Army soldiers from Fort Bliss' 6th Brigade participated in today’s test, with two soldiers conducting radar operations, two soldiers assisting contractors at the launcher, and one soldier assisting contractors at the THAAD fire control and communications.

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