The list of potential bidders for the US Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) has shrunk, following the announcement that Northrop Grumman will team with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin's subsequent tie-up with Boeing.
As part of MDA's Block 2008 ballistic missile defence evolution, KEI is a multi-use interceptor compatible with different operational basing modes and able to defeat enemy missiles in the boost, mid-course and exoatmospheric phases of flight. The missile will initially be ground-based and focused on the boost phase intercept, supplementing the planned Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser.
The MDA plans to award up to three initial concept design contracts next month, from which a winner will be selected in January for full-scale development. From a potential field of four contractors, there are now just two, with Raytheon agreeing to subcontract to Northrop Grumman on developing and integrating the interceptor and taking a share of weapon system engineering.
Shortly after the Northrop Grumman/Raytheon announcement, Lockheed Martin revealed it would be leading a team that included Boeing. There will follow later in 2004 a second contract to look at the feasibility of a space-based KEI system. Initial on-orbit testing with three to five satellites is to due to begin in 2008. The winner of the initial KEI will be excluded from the running for the follow-on space-based contract, says the MDA.
Lockheed Martin has received $100 million US Army funding to accelerate Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile production. The extra funding adds 12 missiles to the army's 2003 purchase of 88 missiles. This follows the initial fielding of PAC-3 in the Middle East to counter Iraqi missile threats.Source: Flight International