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Pentagon Video Shows Moment Missile Destroys Target Over Pacific

The Pentagon on Wednesday released video of a U.S. long-range interceptor missile successfully destroying its airborne target — a signal to North Korea.
Image: The explosion after the intercept missile hit and destroyed the target missile
The moment of impact when the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle intercepted and destroyed the target in a direct collision during the FTG-15 Flight Test.Missile Defense Agency
By Andrew Rafferty

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Wednesday released video of a U.S. long-range interceptor missile successfully destroying its airborne target the day after conducting an exercise meant to send a signal to North Korea.

Thermal imaging video shows the interceptor directly colliding with an intercontinental-range missile fired from a test site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific on Tuesday. The interceptor missile was launched from an underground silo at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The test comes as U.S. tensions with North Korea continue to rise. North Korea launched a military projectile on Monday that landed in Japan’s maritime economic zone, and leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to continue work on weapons that could potentially strike the West Coast of the United States.

Image: The explosion after the intercept missile hit and destroyed the target missile
The moment of impact when the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle intercepted and destroyed the target in a direct collision during the FTG-15 Flight Test.Missile Defense Agency

Before Tuesday, the most recent intercept test took place in June 2014. That test was also successful, but previous launches have not been since the weapons system was deemed ready for combat in 2004. Just four of nine tests have effectively destroyed its target.

Andrew Rafferty

Andrew Rafferty has been a political reporter for NBCNews.com since 2013. Rafferty writes and reports on politics for the web, and shoots and produces video for all NBC platforms. 

Prior to joining NBCNews.com, Rafferty was a campaign reporter covering the 2012 presidential election. Rafferty was on the road for both the Republican primaries and general election, providing content for both the web and television. 

Rafferty began at NBC News through a fellowship at "Meet The Press." 

He is from Buffalo, N.Y., and attended John Carroll University in Ohio.