US missile defence test misses target

A missile fired by an American navy cruiser has missed its airborne target in an unsuccessful test of a sea-based missile defence system.

It was the second consecutive failed missile test over the Pacific after a series of successful strikes, and the first failure of a sea-based test.

An Aries target missile was launched from Kauai, Hawaii, and a Standard Missile-3 interceptor was fired from the USS Lake Erie two minutes later.

It appeared the SM-3 had missed its target even though its guidance system was activated, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Yesterday’s launch was the fourth test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence system. The first three tests, all last year, were successful.

The feat has been compared to hitting a bullet with a bullet.

The Bush administration has outlined plans to have a rudimentary missile defence system ready for use by 2005, but critics have questioned whether the goal is feasible and whether the threat of attack is sufficient to justify the expense.