POINT MUGU : Submarine Launches Test Missile Inland

The U.S. Navy launched a missile from a submerged submarine off the Southern California coast Friday to an inland target at China Lake as part of its routine testing program, officials said.

The Pacific Missile Test Center at Point Mugu fired a U.S. Navy Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile about 1,000 miles to its target area near Death Valley, said Bob Hubbert, Point Mugu spokesman.

The missile, fired from the base’s 35,000-square-mile ocean testing area, hit its target and will be rebuilt for future use, he said.

No danger exists in shooting a missile toward the mainland because Point Mugu workers fire in a controlled area and follow the missile by plane to detonate it if it strays from its course, Hubbert said.