The Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful “important exercise and flight test” Friday from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., of a ground-based interceptor missile, ultimately to be used to protect the nation against long-range ballistic missiles. Air Force Lt. Gen. Trey Obering, MDA chief, told reporters earlier that the test would be “realistic” but the interceptor’s kill vehicle would not impact the target missile. That test remains on schedule for later this year.
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…