LOS ANGELES — The U.S. missile defense system can't be relied on to hit its targets even in scripted tests a decade after it was declared operational and despite $40 billion spent.
A Los Angeles Times investigation found that officials overstated the reliability of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, or GMD.
The missile shield system is supposed to protect Americans from attacks by "rogue states" like North Korea and Iran. But the system has failed in half of the tests conducted to determine its ability to intercept a mock enemy warhead.
The system was rushed into the field in 2002 under President George W. Bush. The Obama administration supports expanding the system.
A Missile Defense Agency spokesman said in a statement the agency was working to improve their reliability.
