US forces using a new Raytheon interceptor missile downed missile in space in a test of a shield built to thwart growing capabilities of countries of North Korea and Iran.
The mission off Hawaii late Tuesday was against a medium-range, separating ballistic missile, the Pentagon agency responsible for it said.
The mock warhead split from the target's booster section, presenting what is supposed to be a more realistic attack scenario.
The United States plans to deploy increasingly capable versions of Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 through 2020 to help counter missiles that might some day be capable of delivering chemical, biological or nuclear warheads from Iran or North Korea.
The new model is to be put on land-based launchers in Romania in 2015 as well as on ships. It is a key part of President Barack Obama's plan to guard Nato's European territory from Iran, which is at odds with the US over its nuclear programme.
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