Canadian warship missile test aborted mid-flight after communication failure

A Canadian navy missile test was aborted mid-flight this week after controllers lost communication with the projectile off the coast of southern California, Report informs referring to CTV News.

The Harpoon Block II missile was lost at sea after it was fired from HMCS Regina during a joint Canada-US exercise at the US Navy's Point Mugu sea range near San Diego on Wednesday.

Cmdr. Jeremy Samson, the frigate's commanding officer, says the missile's flight was terminated approximately 30 to 60 seconds after it was launched toward a surface target situated about 55 kilometers from the ship.

"Without getting into too many of the technical details, there was an issue with the first missile," Samson said in a telephone interview from the warship Thursday.

"When you fire a missile on a range, there are safety procedures to make sure the missile is doing what it's supposed to, and losing that communication can cause you to order the missile to destruct," he added.

A Department of National Defence spokesperson says the precision-guided missile plunged in the ocean within the 93,000-square-kilometre sea range and was not recoverable.

"As safety is paramount during any military live fire exercise, constant communication between the missile and the range facility is required," the National Defence spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"These pathways are checked and verified before the missile is launched. However, after launch, if communication is lost – even temporarily, and for any reason – the range will terminate the missile in flight."