(Reuters) – A U.S. warship has intercepted and destroyed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) goal in a check performed northeast of Hawaii, the U.S. Missile Protection Company (MDA) mentioned.

The check, performed on Nov 16, concerned an Aegis Ballistic Missile Protection-equipped destroyer which the MDA didn’t establish.

“We’ve demonstrated that an Aegis BMD-equipped vessel outfitted with the SM-Three Block IIA missile can defeat an ICBM-class goal,” mentioned vice admiral and MDA director Jon Hill.

The Normal Missile Three Block IIA (SM-Three IIA) was developed by a three way partnership between Raytheon Co and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

The ICBM was destroyed outdoors Earth’s ambiance, Raytheon mentioned in a separate assertion.

Hill mentioned the check may increase the Floor-based Midcourse Protection (GMD) system, a community of radars, anti-ballistic missiles and different tools designed to guard the USA from ICBMs.

“The Division is investigating the opportunity of augmenting the GMD system by fielding further sensors and weapon methods to hedge towards surprising developments within the missile menace,” he mentioned.

(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; enhancing by Jason Neely)