March 18, 2009 - Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) joined the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) last night at  MDA headquarters to observe an element of the U.S. layered Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), conduct a live missile intercept. The intercept successfully used “hit to kill” technology to “kill” a threat representative target at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

“The United States continues to prove again and again that we have gone beyond hitting a bullet with a bullet to the point now of hitting a dot on the side of a bullet with a bullet.

"Last night was another great moment for America. Our noble warfighters deserve accolade from the American people for once again proving to the world that our layered ballistic missile defense system is getting closer and closer to making the enemy’s missiles impotent against America’s defensive system.

"Missile proliferation throughout the world is steadily increasing, and it is doing so in dangerous regions in the world.  State and non state actors whose goals are inimical to our own are increasing their ability to make more sophisticated weapons.

"This Congress must continue to provide the MDA with enough funding for testing and targets to ensure they stay on track to test against separating, salvo and medium range targets.”