[vodpod id=Video.2972017&w=425&h=350&fv=contentId%3Dus%2F2010%2F02%2F01%2Fmissile.test.fail.dod%26amp%3Bcontext%3D640x384_start_art%26amp%3BdomId%3Dcvp_1%26amp%3Bw%3D640%26amp%3Bh%3D384]

A U.S. missile defense test failed Sunday when a long-range missile missed its target because of radar problems.

The Defense Department said a target missile was launched from an Army test site at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands at 7:40 p.m.

Six minutes later, a second missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, to find the first one and destroy it.

Both missiles flew successfully, but missed each other because of a problem in the sea-based X-band radar, the department’s Missile Defense Agency said.

The X-band radar sits atop a modified floating oil platform and provides information about incoming missiles so military officials can launch a response.

“Both the target missile and ground-based interceptor performed nominally after launch. However, the sea-based X-band radar did not perform as expected,” the agency said.

Officials intend to investigate the cause of the interception failure.

Via: