U.S. Aegis system zaps cruise, ballistic missile targets in test

The U.S. Aegis missile defense system on Thursday destroyed two cruise missile targets and one ballistic missile target nearly simultaneously in a test conducted by a U.S. Navy destroyer off the coast of Hawaii, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.

The test, which took place just after noon Hawaii time/0100 GMT, validated a new upgrade of the Aegis missile defense system built by Lockheed Martin Corp, and two different missiles built by Raytheon Co, the agency said.

The successful test comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Russia over Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine earlier this year.

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