Military Defends Decision to Halt Missile Testing

The Pentagon on Tuesday defended its decision to stop testing and move to the next stage in developing a missile interceptor after six failures were followed by two successes. One senior official had recommended further testing.

The Army announced last week that it was ending tests on an experimental version of its $15.4-billion Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system, satisfied that it had resolved most of the problems that plagued the first six tests.

Instead of conducting another test of the prototype missile later this year, the Army’s contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp., will begin engineering a more advanced version to be fielded by the Army in 2007.

The decision to move ahead was made over the objections of Philip E. Coyle III, director of operational test and evaluation for the Pentagon. Coyle said the two successful flight tests, carried out at the Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, were “shaped and scripted” and differed from conditions of a real attack. He said that more tests should be conducted before any contract is awarded.

Coyle was out of town Tuesday and his office said he was unavailable for comment.