8 December 2003
The Kinetic Energy Interceptor program will provide needed additional
capability to the nation-s Ballistic Missile Defense System. The initiative is
aimed at deploying a boost-phase intercept capability by 2008. By engaging
ballistic missiles in the boost and ascent stages of flight, the KEI will
provide the nation with the capability of defeating future sophisticated
threats before their payloads are released. The KEI program is designed to
produce interceptors capable of shooting down enemy ballistic missiles during
their boost and ascent phases of flight. This effort will augment the
midcourse and terminal based interceptor programs currently underway to
provide a layered missile defense architecture that will guard against
potential enemy attack. The booster stack defined for the initial deployment
will be designed to accept subsequent spiral-development upgrades to the
interceptor and other system components. The relative velocity (or closing
rate) of a KE intercept may vary from a low of 1 to 2 km/s up to a
hypervelocity of 8 to 10 km/s (10 km/s = 36,000 km/hr).
Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) is a missile defense program whose goal is to
design, develop, and deploy kinetic energy-based, mobile, ground and
sea-launched missiles that can intercept and destroy enemy ballistic missiles
during their boost phase. KEI element consists of Interceptor Component,
Mobile Launcher Component, and Command, Control, Battle Management, and
Communications (C2BMC) component.
Kinetic boost phase intercept is a challenge because the threat missile must
be detected and confirmed within a few seconds of launch. It then becomes a
race between an accelerating ballistic missile and the interceptor in which
the threat missile has had a head start. Another technical challenge is
designing a kill vehicle that can detect and track the target following
missile-staging events and then impact the missile in the presence of a
brilliant plume. Near term activities will allow risk reduction activities to
resolve critical technological risks associated with candidate boost systems
and the development of a concept of operations through war-gaming and other
planning activities.
MDA is considering a sea-based boost activity to develop a high-speed,
high-acceleration booster coupled with a boost kill vehicle. This activity
will simultaneously support a proof-of-concept space-based experiment (SBX)
using a space-based kinetic energy kill vehicle. The object of this work is to
make product line decisions that would deliver useful initial boost defense
capability by 2010, either from a mobile sea-based or a space-based platform.
MDA will test a sea-based kill vehicle against a threat representative target
that could put MDA on the path to an operational sea-based intercept
capability. This activity will simultaneously support a space-based experiment
(SBX) using a space-based kinetic energy kill vehicle.
In December 2003 MDA dropped plans to spend $14 million on the space-based
Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) in FY2004. Any spending on space KEI will not
take place until FY2005 at the earliest.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced plans to release the draft Request
for Proposal (RFP) for the Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) Capabilities on
17 January 2003. To qualify as a prime contractor, the contractor's team must
have recent, relevant experience in all of the following seven areas: (1)
weapon system integration and test, (2) booster development, (3) kill vehicle
development, (4) launcher development/integration, (5) integration with
external sensors, (6) command, control battle management and communications
and (7) missile production.
On 31 March 2003 a team composed of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)
and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) was awarded a contract by the Missile Defense
Agency (MDA) to proceed to the next phase of the Kinetic Energy Interceptor
(KEI) program competition. Under a $10 million, eight-month contract, Northrop
Grumman/Raytheon was one of two teams chosen for the concept design phase of
the program. Northrop Grumman is leading the team and serving as systems
integrator. Raytheon is the principal subcontractor responsible for developing
and integrating the interceptor and providing a significant portion of weapon
system engineering. The KEI program's Concept Design stage also included
Lockheed Martin and team member Boeing working under a $10 million study
contract awarded by MDA in March 2003.
On June 17, 2003 ATK (Alliant Techsystems, NYSE: ATK), a leading provider of
solid boost, upper-stage, and control system propulsion for missile defense
applications, was selected to support concept definition studies by the two
prime contractor teams competing to define a boost-phase defense capability
for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). ATK Elkton, Elkton, Md., supported
the Lockheed Martin/Boeing and Northrop Grumman/Raytheon teams during the
eight-month concept definition phase of the MDA Kinetic Energy Interceptor
(KEI) program.
On August 22, 2003 Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced that it will conduct
final assembly of its Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) in Courtland, AL, if
selected by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to proceed as prime contractor on
the program.
In November 2003 Boeing [NYSE:BA] successfully tested a new rocket thruster,
just eight inches in length, that is now the most powerful engine of its type
in the propulsion industry. Developed by Boeing Rocketdyne in Canoga Park,
Calif., the Divert and Attitude Control System (DACS) engine generated 1,100
pounds of thrust in hot-fire tests conducted recently at White Sands Test
Facility, N.M. The tests follow a design and development schedule that moved
from a clean sheet of paper to working hardware in only five months. Creation
of the DACS engine was aimed at meeting high-performance propulsion needs of
the Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI), the next-generation missile defense
concept. Characteristics of the new DACS rocket thruster include the ability
to be turned on and off in any sequence to meet mission requirements, as
commanded by the targeting, guidance, navigation and control system; very high
specific impulse and thrust-to-weight-ratios; and highly reliable operation
and low production costs. A key advantage of the engine is its use of storable
liquid propellants, which are fully-characterized with well-documented
technical, performance, operational, safety and handling data.
The program-s schedule called for MDA to select a single contractor to perform
the Development and Test phase of the program in late 2003. Final award to one
prime team for the development and test phase of the KEI program is valued at
more than $4 billion over five years. Overall responsibilities of the prime
will include systems engineering, systems integration and test, command and
control, battle management, communications and launcher development.
On 03 December 2003 the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) today awarded a Northrop
Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) team the
Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) contract. Led by Northrop Grumman, the
industry team will develop and test this critical boost phase element of the
Agency's global layered missile defense system. The KEI contract is valued at
more than $4 billion over eight years.
The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon team will now move forward with its design and
begin managing the development and test phase, leading to planned deployment
of this new land-based element in the 2010-2012 timeframe. KEI will complement
the other boost, midcourse and terminal defense interceptor programs currently
underway.
The Northrop Grumman/Raytheon design includes a mobile land-based launcher
built by Northrop Grumman and subcontractor SEI; a Raytheon-built interceptor
that will be faster and more agile than any other interceptor to date; a HMMWV
that will house the command and control battle management and communications
system; and satellite receivers to process the signal that a hostile missile
has been launched. The equipment is highly mobile and can be easily loaded
onto a C-17 aircraft and transported worldwide.
The KEI Interceptor (36 feet long, 36 inches diameter). Raytheon is developing
the kill vehicle, Orbital is designing the booster, ATK will provide the
engine, and Aerojet will provide the Divert and Attitude Control System.
Northrop Grumman's key missile defense programs include building the Defense
Support Program satellite, the first component in the Ballistic Missile
Defense system to detect a hostile launch; prime contractor for the Joint
Tactical Ground Station; prime contractor developing the Space Tracking and
Surveillance System (STSS); providing payloads and associated mission
processing for SBIRS-High and STSS; developing and fielding the Ground-based
Missile Defense (GMD) fire control/communications system (formerly known as
BMC3) and the command launch equipment command and control (GMD CLE C2)
system; and prime contractor for the Joint National Integration Center (JNIC)
where ballistic missile defense war games are conducted. Northrop Grumman is
also providing engineering support services and active/passive sensor
technology expertise directly to MDA. Northrop Grumman is developing the
high-power chemical laser component of MDA's Airborne Laser (ABL) program. The
company is the U.S. Army's contractor for the Mobile Tactical High-Energy
Laser, and also is playing a leading role developing and fielding the Aegis
weapon system, the major sea-based element of missile defense. Targets and
countermeasures work includes serving as prime contractor for the Liquid
Booster program, and providing systems engineering and technical assistance to
the Rocket Systems
