Misleading Claims of Success in SDI Tests. Nor did they represent increasingly sophisticated tests, nor did they represent completion of the Phase I testing goals, as claimed. The ERIS interceptor did not discriminate between its target and decoys, as claimed.
Discrimination remains a major unsolved problem.
The tests of the HEDI interceptor did not validate the design, as claimed. Parts of the missile broke into pieces, ripping off gauges and forcing costly redesign. The LEAP test was not a success, as claimed, failing to achieve critical altitude and accuracy requirements. Benefits -Each SDI test cost from tens of million to hundreds of millions of dollars. This investigation should help ensure greaterhonesty in reporting the results of these tests and help curtail tests performed more to promote budget requests than scientific study.