US missile defence system hits target in test for first time since 2008

The US missile defence system managed by Boeing has enjoyed a major breakthrough, hitting a simulated enemy missile over the Pacific in the first successful intercept test of the programme since 2008, the US Defence Department said.

The intercept will help validate the troubled Boeing-run Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system, which provides the sole US defence against long-range ballistic missiles, and the Raytheon kill vehicle that separates from rocket to hit an incoming warhead.

"This is a very important step in our continuing efforts to improve and increase the reliability of our homeland ballistic-missile defence system," said Missile Defence Agency director Vice Admiral James Syring.

Syring said that the agency would continue its ongoing drive to ensure that the ground-based interceptors and overall defence system were effective and dependable.

It was reported on Friday that the Pentagon was restructuring its US$3.48 billion contract with Boeing for management of the missile defence system, to put more emphasis on maintenance and reliability.

Sunday's test came after the system had failed to hit a dummy missile in five of eight previous tests since the administration of former president George W.Bush rushed to deploy the system in 2004.