Northrop Calls for interceptor test

ROLLING MEADOWS - Northrop Grumman Corp., the third-largest U.S. defense contractor, called on the Defense Department to carry out the first flight test of a missile interceptor originally planned for September after the military stopped work on the program last month.

The company's Kinetic Energy Interceptor, intended to shoot down enemy missiles shortly after launch, offers "the earliest engagement" of an enemy warhead and data should be obtained on its performance before canceling the program, Dana Johnson, senior analyst at Northrop Grumman's analysis center, told reporters at a briefing in Washington Wednesday.