The project is designed as a means to destroy enemy missiles before they would have the opportunity to hit targets on American soil.
"Tom, do you suppose that could have been an enemy missile?"
In 1980, work finally got under way, but with the new, more ambitious goal of trying to destroy enemy missiles.
It was a maneuver designed to shake an enemy missile if one had been coming at them.
With missile defense systems, we shoot down enemy missiles after they are launched.
An actual enemy missile would not make itself such an inviting target.
"It can be used against an air threat but its principal purpose is to shoot down enemy missiles."
After all, there is still the threat of enemy anti-aircraft missiles.
On the second one an enemy missile got through their defenses.
With its radar, it can spot enemy missiles and bullets.