THE US Department of Defense has successfully flight tested an infra-red (IR) sensor for the proposed National Missile Defence (NMD) weapon.
The purpose was to test the ability of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) sensor to identify and track objects in space. Initial results show that the EKV successfully identified and tracked the simulated targets.
In the 24 June test, a Payload Launch Vehicle (PLV) topped with the EKV sensor, made by Boeing North American, was launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. The sensor employs a highly sensitive infra-red focal-plane array packaged to look out of the side of the launch vehicle through a telescope.
The target fired from Vandenberg AFB, California, was a multi-service launch system, a specially configured US Air Force Minuteman II missile, which carried simulated targets.
A rival Hughes Aircraft EKV sensor is set to perform a similar test early in 1998. Both EKV contractors have begun to procure hardware for an actual intercept attempt scheduled for late 1998. After each firm attempts an intercept test, one design will be selected for an NMD integrated system evaluation in late 1999.
The sensor test was to take place on 30 May, but was postponed after software problems with missile-range test-launch equipment.
Source: Flight International