Lockheed Martin works on missile defence

Lockheed Martin has started working on defining the concept of a Multi-Object Kill Vehicle missile defence system for the US Missile Defense Agency, the company announced on 13 August.

Under a $9.7 million contract, Lockheed Martin will develop a system concept that can be used by the Ground-based Midcourse Defense element of the US ballistic missile defence system. The company will also identify methods for reducing technical risks, and consider advanced sensor, communication and divert-and-attitude control technologies and approaches.

A kill vehicle destroys an incoming missile before it hits its target. It is part of an interceptor that strikes the warhead and eliminates the threat using force of impact alone. Currently, all major US missile defence systems use this hit-to-kill force-of-impact technology. The concept system being developed could stop a single missile that releases multiple objects, including the warhead and decoys.

Doug Graham, vice president of missile systems and advanced programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, said: ‘We will devise and explore the most effective solutions for destroying more than one warhead with a single interceptor, an important step in changing the cost curve for missile defence engagement. 

‘Our talented engineers will use out-of-the-box Silicon Valley thinking to create an ultra-high-performance system that will operate outside of the atmosphere while traveling thousands of miles per hour.’