Pentagon says key US missile interceptor fails test for third consecutive time

The Department of Defense has said a test of the only US defense against long-range ballistic missiles failed on Friday.

The department said it was the third consecutive failure involving the interceptor system that is managed by Boeing Co.

It said in a statement that the programme officials will conduct an extensive review to determine the cause which prevented a successful intercept, the Guardian reports.

According to the report, the Pentagon said this week that the test would not affect its decision to bolster the US missile defense system.

The United States has 26 interceptors deployed at Fort Greely in Alaska and four at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the report added.