The PAC-3 Missile intercepted and destroyed the incoming tactical ballistic missile (TBM) target. Preliminary test data indicate all test objectives were successfully achieved.

This was the second successful intercept of a target by the PAC-3 Missile, and the fourth successful engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) test flight. The first two successful flights of the PAC-3 Missile were conducted during the EMD developmental test phase in late 1997, but neither of those flights involved a target. The first PAC-3 Missile target intercept flight was on March 15, 1999.

"The PAC-3 Missile works and hit-to-kill technology is viable. We proved those once again today with this successful intercept by the PAC-3 Missile," said Jim Berry, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "I am very pleased with our PAC-3 team. They have done an extraordinary job."

"The PAC-3 Missile program continues to be built upon success," said Mike Trotsky, vice president - air defense programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas.

"If you consider the two predecessor programs to the PAC-3 Missile, which were ERINT and FLAGE, you'll discover that Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas has conducted eight successful hit-to-kill intercepts with this technology. Now that we have two intercepts in a row under our belt in the PAC-3 EMD phase, we're ready to move forward with a low- rate initial production program."

The PAC-3 Missile is a high velocity, hit-to-kill missile and is the next generation Patriot missile being developed to provide increased capability against advanced theater ballistic missile, cruise missile and hostile aircraft.

The PAC-3 Missile kills incoming targets by direct, body-to-body impact. The PAC-3 Missiles, when deployed in a Patriot battery, will significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16 PAC-3 Missiles load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four Patriot missiles.

The PAC-3 Missile flight testing is being conducted in two stages: developmental test (DT) missions and operational test (OT) missions. The first two DT missions were successfully conducted special instrumentation packages in place of the full-up PAC-3 Missile seeker.

The missions were structured to verify critical system and missile performance prior to conducting target intercept flight tests. The remaining missions will consist of PAC-3 Missiles against different classes of targets.

In addition to the four successful PAC-3 Missile EMD flight tests, the PAC-3's predecessor missile, the Extended-Range Interceptor, demonstrated three hits in a row during the demonstration/validation program in 1994. Two of those tests involved TBM targets and one involved an air-breathing target (simulating a cruise missile or aircraft).

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control - Dallas is the prime contractor responsible for the PAC-3 Missile segment upgrade, which consists of the PAC-3 Missile, missile canisters (in four-packs), the fire solution computer and the enhanced launcher electronics system (ELES).

AFP wire services contributed to this report.