Happened to an earlier DMSP satellite too
DMSP F11 exploded in a similar fashion in 2004, so it runs in the family. Only odd thing about this is that the link on Wikipedia to the report of that explosion (inserted 2004) was deleted by an anonymous user in Washington DC in June last year (now reinstated).
Of course, if you we're going to test your newest hunter-killer tech, then a large, obsolete satellite that you already own would be a great target. Doing it over Antarctica would also keep any prying radars away. But there are four Block 5D2 birds older than F13 which haven't blown up and would make more suitable targets as the OLS onboard F13 was reported as working as late as Jan 5th this year , so simpler battery/fuel explanation is more likely.
Ref to recorded presentation:
https://ams.confex.com/ams/95Annual/webprogram/Paper270311.html
Biting the hand that feeds IT
