The system is composed of a radar, a control center, and interceptor missiles.
The two previous tests of interceptor missiles had mixed results.
The first phase is an initial deployment that would include interceptor missiles and sensors based both in space on the ground.
The problem did not involve the interceptor missile itself, but rather a transmitter used to monitor the test.
And now the Pentagon is about to propose a plan for deploying 100 interceptor missiles at a single site.
Even before the systems were ready for use, the number of interceptor missiles needed to effectively deter an attack kept increasing.
In practice, the price of the interceptor missile was considerable, due to its sophistication.
The launching was a test of whether such a rocket could be used as a cheaper target for interceptor missiles.
Therefore, it was decided that the B-70 would need an interceptor missile to defend itself against the perceived threat.
Last fall an interceptor missile successfully destroyed its target, but almost by accident.