US Intercepts Ballistic Missile in Test off Hawaii

The U.S. military has shot down a short-range ballistic missile in the last stage of its flight during a test off Hawaii.

An interceptor missile launched from Kauai shot down the target fired from a decommissioned amphibious assault ship positioned offshore.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said the intercept occurred at the lowest altitude so far for an interceptor missile in the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

The agency says the test occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday Hawaii time.

Soldiers of the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade from Fort Bliss, Texas, fired the interceptor. They didn't know the launch time in advance.