07.11.17

Sullivan Lauds Successful THAAD Missile Defense Test on Kodiak

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today commended the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Ballistic Missile Defense Operational Test Agency, and U.S. Army soldiers of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss on the successful test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island.

“Last night’s successful THAAD test provided further confirmation that we have the capability to defend our bases, our troops, and our allies in places like Japan, South Korea, and Guam against rogue nations like North Korea,” said Senator Sullivan. “It was also an important demonstration of how the THAAD system has evolved, now with the proven capability of intercepting an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile.   

“I would like to commend the U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Bliss who conducted the test and all of the other individuals and organizations that assisted in its success. I would also like to thank former MDA Director Admiral Jim Syring for his leadership and vision in selecting Kodiak for this important test – and future tests – and General Sam Greaves for seeing that vision through. Now more than ever, Alaska is the cornerstone of U.S. missile defense.”

According to the Missile Defense Agency, last night a ballistic missile target was air-launched by a U.S. Air Force C-17 over the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. A THAAD weapon system located at PSCA in Kodiak, Alaska, detected, tracked and intercepted the target. Preliminary indications are that planned flight test objectives were achieved and the threat-representative, intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) target was successfully intercepted by the THAAD weapon system.

Senator Sullivan included an amendment to this year’s defense authorization bill highlighting the importance of the PSCA, and encouraging the Department of Defense (DOD) to consider expanding the use of this facility to meet mission requirements. Senator Sullivan has included a similar provision in the last two defense authorization bills that directed DOD’s attention to the launch facility on Kodiak. 

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