U.S. Aegis system zaps cruise, ballistic missile targets in test

The USS Monterey military vessel is seen docked in the Black Sea harbour of Constanta, 250 km (155 miles) east of Bucharest June 7, 2011. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Aegis missile defence system on Thursday destroyed two cruise missile targets and one ballistic missile target nearly simultaneously in a test conducted by a U.S. Navy destroyer off the coast of Hawaii, the U.S. Missile Defence Agency said.

The test, which took place just after noon Hawaii time/0100 GMT, validated a new upgrade of the Aegis missile defence system built by Lockheed Martin Corp, and two different missiles built by Raytheon Co, the agency said.