Fledgling US missile shield largely unproven

Published: Jun 18, 2006
Source: www.washingtonpost.com



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Reports that North Korea is preparing to test fire a long-range missile have drawn renewed scrutiny of U.S. efforts to build a reliable system to intercept such missiles, which is still not fully working.

Washington has built up a complex of interceptor missiles, advanced radar stations and data relays designed to detect and shoot down a North Korean warhead, but tests of the system have had mixed results.

The Pentagon's testing office said in January it may offer only "some" protection, despite about $10 billion a year in development spending under President George W. Bush.continue..