July 24, 2006 :: Lockheed Martin :: News
On July 16, a Lockheed Martin-led team completed initial testing of the kill vehicle divert thruster for the Missile Defense Agency’s Multiple Kill Vehicle Payload System. Using what is known as the “many-on-many” strategy, the Multiple Kill Vehicle system deploys multiple exoatmospheric kill vehicles from one interceptor missile (as opposed to the previous designs which included only one kill vehicle). If successfully completed, the many-on-many approach will allow one interceptor to target and destroy an enemy missile and its deployed countermeasures, thus conserving resources and reducing the need for extensive pre-launch intelligence.
In the recent tests, the prototype thruster and valve combination of the Multiple Kill Vehicle’s divert and attitude control system was successfully demonstrated using a liquid monopropellant. The divert and attitude control system positions the kill vehicle to intercept its target. The tests were completed by Aerojet, a Lockheed Martin subcontractor, in its facilities in Redmond, Washington. (Article)
» MDA press release on MKV test
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV)
