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U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release
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| IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
No. 128-97
March 21, 1997 |
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PATRIOT INTERCEPTS SCUD DURING TEST
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army
Space and Strategic Defense Command announced today that a
Patriot missile successfully intercepted and engaged a SCUD
ballistic missile target during a test yesterday in the central
Pacific Ocean.
The Patriot missile, an upgraded guidance enhanced missile
version of the Patriot used during the Gulf War in 1991, was
launched from Meck Island in Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of
the Marshall Islands. The SCUD missile was launched from Aur
Atoll. Patriot's guidance and control system locked onto the
Scud, successfully engaging the target with a blast fragmentation
warhead at very close range.
This was the second successful intercept of a SCUD target
missile in two attempts. The first intercept took place on
February 7, 1997 in the same test location.
For additional information, contact Lt Col. Rick Lehner,
Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, at (703) 695-8743.
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