Other articles by Tony Capaccio:

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The Pentagon has delayed by several months the next intercept test of its ground-based system intended to guard the U.S. from missiles launched by rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, the Missile Defense Agency said.

The delay is to install software upgrades and improved data links in the Raytheon Co. warhead, the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle, and to conduct a test in March to evaluate Boeing Co.'s new precision tracking radar, agency spokesman Richard Lehner said.

The Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle is made in Tucson by Raytheon Missile Systems.

"All of this is why the test is moving to the spring, so we can get as much data as possible for a better assessment on performance," Lehner said.

The delayed test was to be the latest step for a ground-based system that until a successful Sept. 1 intercept had successive failures that prompted an 18-month test suspension to improve quality control. Incoming congressional Democrats, while promising more rigorous oversight, haven't signaled any desire to make major cuts in the program.