An exo-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV) infra-red sensor successfully detected a simulated missile warhead and several decoys launched on a specially adapted US Air Force Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile. The exercise was a crucial test of the troubled National Missile Defense (NMD) system now in development, and was the second successful trial of a candidate infra-red sensor in this role. The EKV sensor was built by Raytheon.
Source: Flight International