The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army
announced today that the next planned demonstration/validation
flight test for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system has
been delayed. The test, originally scheduled for mid-December,
is delayed because of a problem discovered with the operation of
the missile's inertial measurement unit.
The anomaly with the IMU was discovered as a result of the
ongoing detailed pre-flight review process by the government and
contractor team. BMDO and the Army understand the problem with
the IMU and are taking corrective action. This flight test will
be rescheduled as soon as the system is ready. The THAAD Program
Manager delayed the flight to ensure that all systems will be
able to perform as planned.
Dem/Val flight tests are intended to verify the THAAD design
and performance of the THAAD system components. This flight test
will be the seventh planned in the Dem/Val phase of the THAAD
program. Flight test seven is intended to intercept a surrogate
ballistic missile target, while integrating all THAAD system
components for the first time. This includes the missile; THAAD
radar; battle management, command, control and communications;
and THAAD launcher.
THAAD Dem/Val flight tests are conducted at the White Sands
Missile Range in New Mexico. A HERA target missile, which
simulates a longer-range tactical ballistic missile, is launched
from the northern extension of the range and flies a north to
south trajectory. The THAAD interceptor is launched near the
southern boundary and flies from south to north. The intercept
of the target would occur over the center portion of the range.
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