Newsroom

For Immediate Release May 24, 1999

Contact: Keith Ashdown (202) 546-8500 x110

THAAD to Hold Test of System After Six Consecutive Misses After failing six-consecutive tests, the U.S. Army is expected to hold another test for its Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) program on Tuesday. The seventh THAAD test comes in the wake of a growing controversy surrounding the missile defense system. Many critics find the program has wasted $3.9 billion and the program should be completely restructured before investing additional tax dollars. The THAAD weapon system is designed to shield U.S. troops in the field by destroying enemy missiles at high altitudes. The test is slated to take place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the first six unsuccessful tests have been held. Following the THAAD’s sixth test flight, Lockheed Martin Corp. was fined $15 million. The program has until June to make two successful tests, otherwise Lockheed Martin Corp. will owe another $20 million in fines. This missile defense system has its allies including Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), who chairs a subcommittee on military research, and Defense Secretary William Cohen, who plans to allow the THAAD system to continue testing until December 2000. In the past few weeks, Lockheed Martin Corp. fired the president of its Astronautics division following highly publicized failures of its rocket operations including the THAAD program. The corporation conducted an internal review of its missile program after public criticism that the THAAD program has wasted taxpayer funds. The waste of tax dollars may not stop here. After dropping $3.9 billion into a missile defense plan that is a complete failure, Congress is considering investing an additional $11 billion in taxpayer funds during the next few years. The Army wants to buy 40 interceptor missiles as the first portion of a system that is projected to cost $ 15 billion to acquire and $18 billion to operate during the next 20 years, according to news sources. For interview: Alise Frye Tel #: (202) 546-8500 ext. 104. Chronology of THAAD Program May 24, 1999 -- The THAAD program is expecting its seventh test Tuesday in the wake of a growing controversy surrounding the defense system. Many critics, including TCS, find the program to be a waste of nearly $4 billion in taxpayer money it has received so far. With future appropriations, the unsuccessful program could squander close to $15 billion from taxpayers. THAAD has until June to make two successful intercepts, otherwise Lockheed Martin will owe another $20 million in fines. May 11, 1999-- Lockheed Martin Corp. fired the president of its Astronautics division following highly publicized failures of its rocket operations including the THAAD program. The announcement came one week after the corporation conducted an internal review of its missile program. March 29, 1999 -- The THAAD Program launched and missed its target for a sixth-consecutive time. Defense spokespersons blamed a thruster nozzle that blew off during flight. The missile missed its target by more than 13 yards, but defense representatives were pleased because it is the closest a THAAD missile had come yet to its target. THAAD contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. cut 1,200 jobs. Lockheed Martin will have to pay a $ 15 million penalty to the government because of the failure. May 12, 1998 -- The THAAD system failed a fifth-consecutive flight test. A booster rocket misfired and the missile lost control shortly after launch. It impacted on the White Sands Missile Range approximately two miles from its point of take off. March 6, 1997 -- The THAAD missile test failed for the fourth time in a row to hit its target. The cause of the miss was undetermined, according to Pentagon officials. Lockheed Martin Corp. asked for $556 million for the next fiscal year and discussed restructuring the program. July 1996 -- After not being able to locate its target during a test, the THAAD missile blew itself up in the air. This marked the third-consecutive time the THAAD missile failed to reach its target in a test. March 22, 1996 -- The THAAD missile failed in its second-consecutive attempt to intercept its target in flight. It was unable to follow its in-flight command and control orders and flew past the target. Scientists detonated the missile shortly after. December 13, 1995 -- THAAD’s first live-target air failure

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Taxpayers for Common Sense is a non-partisan budget watchdog that serves as an independent voice for American taxpayers.  Now in its second decade of service to the nation, TCS works to ensure that our government spends taxpayer money efficiently and responsibly by working to eliminate wasteful and harmful federal spending.