New Patriot missile test called 'partial success'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon termed Monday's test of the upgraded Patriot missile system "a partial success" after one missile hit a pilotless plane and another missed a dummy warhead.

The test of the Patriot PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) was conducted Monday morning at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

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"Preliminary test data indicate a successful intercept of the more difficult jet aircraft, which was emitting radar jamming signals, and a miss of the ballistic missile target," a statement from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army said.

The Pentagon said the test was designed to use two Patriot missiles to simultaneously engage two targets: a theater ballistic missile and a remotely piloted jet aircraft emitting radar-jamming signals.

The theater ballistic missile engagement was at short range and medium altitude; the aircraft engagement was a long-range, low-altitude mission.

"Today's test was more stressing than all previous tests," said Col. Tom Newberry, manager of the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Project, in a Pentagon statement. "Prior to today, the missiles were dropped, vibrated and heated to represent severe handling of 30 years in stockpile. For test purposes today, only one PAC-3 missile was fired at the ballistic missile target.

"In actual combat two PAC-3 missiles may be fired at these targets to ensure their destruction," Newberry said. "This concept of a two-missile, shoot/shoot intercept was successfully demonstrated previously in March 2001. Extensive post-mission analysis will be conducted to determine if further modifications to the PAC-3 system are required prior to full-rate production."

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

Unlike earlier Patriot missile explosive warheads, the PAC-3 missile literally collides with its target in midair at extremely high speed, destroying the target and neutralizing its payload.

The PAC-3 missile successfully has completed nine flight tests before Monday's test.

The Patriot program is managed by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington and executed by the Army Program Executive Office for Air and Missile Defense and the Army Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Project Office in Huntsville, Alabama.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Dallas, Texas, is the prime contractor responsible for the PAC-3 missile segment.

Raytheon Systems Co., the Patriot system prime contractor, is the system integrator for the PAC-3 missile segment.

The Hera target used in Monday's test is managed by the Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville.