Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
announced today that its team has successfully completed testing of a key
propulsion system component for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Multiple
Kill Vehicle-L (MKV-L) payload. The divert thruster -- a component of the
MKV-L carrier vehicle's divert and attitude control subsystem -- met
performance requirements in a series of static, hot-fire tests at the White
Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.
During an engagement with the enemy, this high-performance propulsion
system maneuvers the carrier vehicle and its cargo of kill vehicles into
the threat complex to intercept the targets. With tracking data from the
Ballistic Missile Defense System and its own seeker, the carrier vehicle
dispenses and guides the kill vehicles to destroy targets in the complex.
"This accomplishment shows our continued progress in developing the
critical capabilities for the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L payload," said Rick
Reginato, Multiple Kill Vehicle program director, Lockheed Martin Space
Systems Company.
Next, a hover test of the entire propulsion system for the carrier
vehicle will be conducted at the National Hover Test Facility, Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif. In this controlled flight test, the divert and attitude
control system subsystem for the carrier vehicle, which includes the
thrusters, will be integrated with the guidance and control hardware
subsystem.
"Completing successful testing of the thruster enables the team to
proceed with the planned hover test, a key performance event in payload
development," said Randy Riley, MKV Hover Test Vehicle program director,
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company.
The MKV-L Hover Test Vehicle development team for the Missile Defense
Agency includes: Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif.,
prime contractor for the Multiple Kill Vehicle-L payload system; Pratt &
Whitney Rocketdyne, Canoga Park, Calif., a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:
UTX) company, and Octant Technologies Inc., San Jose, Calif.
The Missile Defense Agency's Multiple Kill Vehicle is a force
multiplier for all of the land- and sea-based weapons of the integrated
midcourse missile defense system. In the event of an enemy launch, a single
interceptor equipped with this payload destroys not only the re-entry
vehicle but also all credible threat objects, including countermeasures the
enemy deploys to try to spoof our defenses. This many-on-many strategy
eliminates the need for extensive pre-launch intelligence while leveraging
the Ballistic Missile Defense System's discrimination capability, ensuring
a robust and affordable solution to emerging threats. Developing, testing
and deploying a layered Ballistic Missile Defense System for the U.S.
homeland, its deployed forces, friends and allies is essential for
protecting against ballistic missiles of all ranges in all phases of
flight.
Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the
development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including
the first operational hit-to-kill missile. It also has considerable
experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers, command and
control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and
tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company makes
significant contributions to nearly all major U.S. missile defense systems
and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security
company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally
engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The
corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
Digg
Reddit
Slashdot