The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans to test the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system early this month, two U.S. officials confirmed Saturday.

The THAAD system is designed to shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles with shorter ranges than the ICBM that North Korea launched.

US test which involves the THAAD seeking to detect, track and engage a target with an interceptor missile.

Despite being planned months ago, the U.S. missile defense test will gain significance in the wake of North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4 that has heightened concerns about the threat from Pyongyang.

The test will be the first of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), one of the officials said. The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.

The United States has THAAD interceptors in Guam that are meant to help guard against a missile attack from a country such as North Korea, the officials said, adding that the precise nature and timing of the upcoming test is not known yet.

Source: Fana News