LWI - Land Warfare
US GMD system completes test
A Boeing-led team successfully tested improvements to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, validating system components with its partners and the US Missile Defense Agency, Boeing announced on 28 January.
During the test, a GMD interceptor launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base , California. It performed an intentional fly-by of a target representing an advanced long-range ballistic missile. This was done to demonstrate the interceptor's maximum manoeuvring and to enhance data collection.
A Raytheon Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) completed a data-gathering mission during the flight test. EKVs are designed to destroy ballistic threats while they are still in space. The mission objective was to observe the in-flight performance of the redesigned system components and gain information on evolving threat classes. The tests were supported by Raytheon's AN/TPY-2 radar and sea-based X-band radar (SBX).
Taylor Lawrence, president, Raytheon Missile Systems, said: ‘This was a remarkable data-collection opportunity. These are among our industry's most complex systems. Testing is critically important to ensuring the advancement of reliable kill vehicles for the protection of the US homeland.’
Norm Tew, vice president and program director, GMD, Boeing, said: ‘The Missile Defense Agency’s test design enabled the collection of critical data to validate key design improvements for the US homeland defence architecture. This data will also support future development such as the work that’s currently underway on the Boeing-led redesigned kill vehicle.’
More from Land Warfare
-
Russia to begin testing of new mobile mortar
A new 82mm mobile mortar system dubbed Drok is set to begin testing by the Airborne Troops branch of the Russian military. According to the ...
-
Poland nears Wisla final decision
The Polish MoD has confirmed that negotiations for the next phase of the Wisla air and missile defence programme are moving forward as planned and ...
-
Slovakian military police receive new vehicles
The Slovakian Ministry of Defence has handed over 21 new pick-up vehicles to the country's military police force. The vehicles have been procured under a ...
-
US Army explores enhanced lethality possibilities on Stryker
The US Army continues to explore counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities and new gun possibilities for its Stryker armoured vehicle. In November 2018 Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated ...
-
EDEX 2018: Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 makes an impression
Switzerland’s Rheinmetall Air Defence displayed its Oerlikon Revolver Gun Mk3 at EDEX, attracting attention from visitors. The remotely controlled autonomous network-capable air defence system comprises ...
-
British Army demos new Challenger 2 urban operation tank concept
The British Army’s Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) has developed a new Challenger 2 MBT demonstrator to highlight modifications that could be made to the platform ...