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Exoatmospheric Kinetic Kill Vehicle - In 1990, the U.S. Army awarded
Boeing a contract to design and develop exoatmospheric kinetic kill vehicles for
ground-based interceptors. After the first flight test of the Boeing EKV infrared sensor
on June 23, 1997, the Department of Defense stated, "-the EKV (sensor) successfully
identified and tracked the simulated threat targets." Boeing is under contract to
deliver a Kill Vehicle Flight Test unit for a hit-to-kill test in mid-1998. Upon being
alerted of an imminent attack against the U.S., the National Missile Defense system will
launch an appropriate number of Ground Based Interceptors with EKV weapons. In space, the
EKVs will separate from their boosters, immediately detect attacking missiles, distinguish
real targets from decoys, and destroy them by hit-to-kill intercepts. The compact,
lightweight vehicles feature advanced infrared sensors; guidance, navigation, and control;
divert and attitude-control propulsion; and on-board signal processing. |