KEI team completes missile defense test of enhanced rocket motor

The Raytheon and Northrop Grumman Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) team have fired a Stage 2 rocket motor featuring an enhanced nozzle and upgraded ballistics. The firing occurred at the Alliant Techsystems' test facility in Elkton, Maryland last week.

KEI is a land-based missile defence system that has the Missile Defense Agency's newest rapid acceleration interceptor. When fully deployed, the mobile system will have the capability to destroy medium, intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles in their boost, ascent and midcourse phases of flight.

"This test builds additional confidence in our booster design and demonstrates significant progress toward our first flight test in 2009," said Chuck Ross, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of KEI. "This firing paves the way for future tests in high-altitude environments."

KEI features a compact, lightweight design that enables mobility and flexible deployment.

Northrop Grumman is leading the team charged with developing and testing a KEI capability for the Missile Defense Agency. Raytheon leads the program's interceptor development work. Alliant Techsystems is Raytheon's principal subcontractor and is responsible for performing Stage 1 and Stage 2 rocket-motor development work.

Orbital Sciences will integrate the booster and prepare range operations for the 2009 flight.

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