U.S. CLAIMS AEGIS CAN INTERCEPT SHIHAB-3

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has touted the new Aegis sea-basedmissile defense system as capable of intercepting Iran's new Shihab-3intermediate-range missile. Officials said the capabilities of the Aegis have been detailed inbriefings for several allied nations of the United States. They said theMissile Defense Agency and the U.S. Navy have concluded that the SM-3interceptor or a future model planned for deployment on the Aegis is capableof destroying North Korean-origin ballistic missiles.