STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC & PETER LA FRANCHI / CANBERRA
Winning eight-year boost-phase interceptor programme gives company greater presence in missile defence market
Northrop Grumman has joined an elite tier of missile defence prime contractors after securing a $4.5 billion contract to build the boost-phase interceptor that closes the gap in the US Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) layered coverage strategy.
The eight-year Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) programme elevates Northrop Grumman's presence in the missile defence market to rank with mid-course segment leader Boeing and terminal segment prime Lockheed Martin, both losers in the 10-month KEI competition.
KEI is the first boost-phase missile programme that supplements the Boeing AL-1 Airborne Laser. It is designed to strike a ballistic missile in the first few minutes of flight while the incoming warhead is still ascending, and later versions could be able to target mid-course and terminal-phase warheads. The MDA plans to start testing a land-based system of the baseline KEI in 2009, followed by a sea-based capability.
Although the role of the KEI is new, Northrop Grumman's proposed design scrupulously avoids breaking new ground in warhead, guidance and booster technologies, says chief executive Ronald Sugar. Rather, the plan is to borrow as much as possible from team-member Raytheon's work on the US Navy's cancelled Standard SM-3 and the mid-course segment's current exoatmospheric kill vehicle.
The booster is an "extrapolation of solid rocket motor technologies", but is "configured in such a way that yields a much higher level of performance", says Northrop Grumman Mission Systems president Don Winter. Northrop Grumman has awarded a $150 million contract to ATK to develop and test the first, second and third stages of the propulsion system.
Meanwhile, Australia plans to negotiate participation in US-led missile defence programmes, potentially including boost-phase detection, acquisition of ground-based sensor systems, and scientific research. Industry involvement is also being explored.
Australian defence minister Robert Hill says it is unlikely the involvement will lead to the stationing of anti-ballistic missile interceptors on the Australian mainland, but the Royal Australian Navy's proposed air-warfare destroyers could support a maritime intercept capability. Joining the US programme will, he says, "contribute to global, regional and Australian security by offering protection from missile attack and dissuading nations from acquiring or developing such weapons".
Australia has been actively working on its ground station capability for the US Space-Based Infrared System - High early warning satellite constellation. It has explored the use of over-the-horizon radar as a boost-phase detection system.
Source: Flight International
