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Three tests, conducted in 2002, were considered successful. Four additional flight tests have been conducted with three rated as successful. The most recent test in November 2005 intercepted and "killed" a ballistic missile separating reentry warhead. US Navy interest in operations against ballistic missiles dates back to 1965 when Terrier and Tartar anti-aircraft missiles were test fired against Corporal and Redstone missiles. While some of those tests were successful, the capability was not exploited. The current effort to deploy Aegis ballistic missile defense capability was kindled in the early 1990s to provide a weapon system vehicle for exploratory testing of LEAP technology being developed by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO). The initial Aegis Combat System success in demonstrating the potential for ballistic missile killing in 2002 may have contributed to President Bush's decision to build an emergency capability to be deployed by late 2004. The US Navy is currently converting 15 Aegis equipped Destroyers and 3 cruisers to incorporate ballistic missile defense capability. Operational tests are planned for later in 2006. While Aegis BMD ships transmit their initial target detection information to the national Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system for potential defense of the US, they can also fire their Standard Missile-3 to provide theater level ballistic missile defense against short and intermediate range tactical ballistic missiles. An evolving program of capability improvements is also underway. According to '' The Wall Street Journal '', the program was the brainchild of former Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff Baxter . Also see a similar program, the Army, land based THAAD system. SEE ALSO Hemispheric Missile Defense Systems Continental Missile Defense Systems
Theater Missile Defense Systems
Battlefield Missile Defense Systems
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