 The Missile Defense Agency announced May 17th that the AGES Ballistic Missile Defense System or BMD conducted a successful intercept flight test. The AGES BMD is a component of the Missile Defense Agency's ballistic missile defense system and is capable of defeating short to intermediate and short range ballistic missiles. AGES is designed to take down missiles prior to their reentry with radar and standard missile technologies. The test took place May 15th at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii with the launch of a short range ballistic missile target. The target was engaged and destroyed by USS Erie which followed the warhead to its destination making the test a complete success. This is the 25th successful intercept of the 31 tested trials from the AGES program since 2002. From the Defense Media Activity, I'm Petty Officer James Stollpeck.