Missile defense

Contractors complete key multi-object kill vehicle program review

The three companies designing a kill vehicle that can take out multiple warheads with a single interceptor have completed their first program planning reviews with the Missile Defense Agency, marking a critical step toward determining key elements of the designs.

Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing were all awarded $9.7 million contracts in August 2015 by the Missile Defense Agency to work on designs.

...Raytheon is using its expertise across four kill vehicle programs including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System's Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle.

The EKV, a critical component of the interceptors of the GMD system designed to protect the homeland from possible ballistic missile threats from North Korea and Iran, struggled in tests. The MDA is redesigning the already fielded system to build in more reliability and capability.