The USS Lake Eerie tracked, targeted and shot the missile down within four minutes of its launch from the Pacific Missile Range facility on the island of Kauai, the Missile Defense Agency and the Navy said in a statement.

"Within two minutes after target launch the Aegis Weapon System fired the SM-3 guided missile," the statement said.

"Approximately two minutes later, the missile's kinetic warhead acquired, tracked and diverted into the target, demonstrating the Aegis BMD (ballistic missile defense) system's capability to engage the ballistic missile target in the ascent phase," it said.

It was the third successful missile interception in three tries using an Aegis warship equipped with powerful air defense radars and sophisticated battle management computers.

The two previous interceptions involved hitting the missile after it had begun its descent, while Thursday's test was aimed at showing it could be done as the missile was rising into space.

The target missile was a short-to-medium range, single stage modified Minuteman missile.

The Missile Defense Agency has accelerated the development of a sea-based missile defense system in the hopes of having it ready for deployment in an emergency as early as 2005 or 2006, defense officials said.

The sea-based system is only one of a variety of missile defenses being pursued by the Pentagon, which is seeking a layered defense capable of destroying incoming missiles at any point along its trajectory.

SPACE.WIRE