Space

DATE= 7/6/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= U-S/MISSILE DEFENSE (S ONLY)

NUMBER=2-277996

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States is going ahead with another test of its controversial missile defense system. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: The Pentagon says its next attempt to shoot down a ballistic missile with what it calls a "kill vehicle" will take place outside the Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific next Saturday, July 14th.

That is just over a year after the last intercept test - a failure last July that prompted then President Clinton to defer a decision on whether to press ahead with the program. Two of the three tests staged since 1999 have failed.

China, Russia and many U-S allies have criticized the effort.

But President Bush says he is committed to pursuing a missile defense program. The latest Pentagon budget increases spending on missile defense research by some three billion dollars, raising it to a total of some eight-point-three billion dollars. (SIGNED)

NEB/BEL/MAR