Boeing/Raytheon GBI-EKV kills ICBM target

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Boeing announced Friday the successful interception of a long-range ballistic missile target in what it described as "the most challenging test to date of the United States' only long-range ballistic missile defense system."

"This test demonstrated that the Ground-based Mid-course Defense -- GMD -- system can defeat a long-range ballistic missile target," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.

"This intercept is further proof that GMD can provide our nation with an effective defense against the threat of long-range ballistic missiles," Fancher said.

Boeing said the long-range ballistic missile target was launched at 3:04 p.m. EST Friday from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. A Ground-based Mid-course Interceptor -- GBI -- was then fired at it from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Target data updates were transmitted to the GBI from the GMD fire control system that was receiving and coordinating data from four different sensors, "the most ever for an intercept test," Boeing said.

The company said the sensor systems involved were the Aegis Long Range Surveillance and Track system in the Pacific; the AN/TPY-2 radar currently at Juneau, Alaska; the Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; and the Sea-Based X-Band Radar -- SBX -- in the Pacific.

"After flying into space, the interceptor released its exoatmospheric kill vehicle, which tracked, intercepted and destroyed the target warhead. This end-to-end test of the GMD system was the most realistic and comprehensive to date," the company said.

"Data gathered from multiple sensors gave us a clearer picture of the incoming threat, enabling GMD to achieve the shootdown of a complex target," said Greg Hyslop, Boeing vice president and GMD program director.

"Integrating sensors separated by thousands of miles is a major engineering challenge, but we overcame this challenge by working together as a team," Hyslop said.

"This test was an important milestone for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, a powerful, mobile sensor developed by Boeing," said Norm Tew, Boeing's chief engineer for GMD.

"This was the first intercept test in which data from SBX was combined with data from the other sensors to provide tracking data and guidance aim-point updates to the interceptor," Tew said.

The successful exercise marked the Ground-based Missile Defense system's eighth intercept so far. It also marked the third intercept exercise since September 2006 that was achieved with an interceptor of the same design and capabilities as those already deployed in defense of the domestic United States.

Boeing is the prime contractor for the GMD system, the main line of defense against nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles that might be fired at the United States by some "rogue" state.

Raytheon praises EKV performance in test

Raytheon said Friday its Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle played a key role in the successful GBI test over the Pacific Ocean.

In Friday's test, a Raytheon-built EKV successfully destroyed its ballistic missile target in space over the eastern Pacific Ocean.

"While communicating with ground sensors, the EKV detected, tracked and discriminated the target," the company said in a statement.

"This highly successful test of the GMD system once again demonstrates Raytheon's commitment to performance and reliability," said Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "We continue to prove the maturity of our kill vehicle technology and our ability to provide this critical capability to the nation."

Raytheon said that during the flight, the EKV calculated its own position utilizing the positions of the stars. The EKV then chose an aim-point and was able to position itself for a direct hit, striking the target at a closing velocity of more than 18,000 mph, the company said.

Raytheon said that in a first successful exercise in GMD integrated performance, the company's AN/TPY-2 X-Band Radar locked on to the target soon after launch from its location in Juneau, Alaska, and then transmitted regular tracking data to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System.

Raytheon said its Upgraded Early Warning Radar, at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., monitored the target long-range ballistic missile as it flew downrange. The company's X-Band Radar, on the Sea-based X-band radar array, was also involved in monitoring the target missile, it said.

"The UEWR, SBX and AN/TPY-2 performed as expected, demonstrating their missile defense capabilities," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "This test confirms all three radars' ability to provide integrated information to the BMDS (Ballistic Missile Defense System) in support of an intercept."

Raytheon wins $7.4M contract to upgrade 166 PAC-2s to GEM-T

Raytheon said Thursday it has won a contract to boost the capabilities of 166 Patriot PAC-2 missiles for the U.S. Army to intercept and destroy ballistic and cruise missiles.

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., approved the $77.4 million contract to upgrade 166 Patriot Advanced Configuration-2 missiles to Guidance Enhanced Missiles-Tactical, the company said in a statement.

"Upgrading Patriot PAC-2 missiles to GEM-Ts ensures that the Army and our other Patriot partners have the capability to defend against advanced air-breathing and tactical ballistic missiles," said Skip Garrett, vice president and deputy for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

"Raytheon remains dedicated to continuously improving Patriot hardware and software to ensure that Patriots can defeat all known and potential threats," Garrett said.

Raytheon said the upgrade operations would be performed at Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass., and that they should be completed by the end of August 2011.