The Department of Defense has tested a ground-launched cruise missile to gather data for future intermediate-range weapons development. The missile flew 500 kilometers from a site in San Nicolas Island, Calif., before striking a target, DoD said Monday.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Carver, a DoD spokesperson, said the tested weapon is a variant of the existing Tomahawk missile, Military.com reported Monday. The test follows the end of an old treaty that restricted the U.S. from performing intermediate-range tests. The severed agreement was known as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
Mark Esper, secretary of defense and 2019 Wash100 Award winner, earlier this month announced the country’s departure from the treaty due to Russia’s continuous violation of the agreement.
