Lockheed begin development of MOKV missile defense system

Lockheed Martin has begun work in Sunnyvale, California, to define the concept for a Multi-Object Kill Vehicle missile defense system f...

Lockheed Martin has begun work in Sunnyvale, California, to define the concept for a Multi-Object Kill Vehicle missile defense system for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

The next-generation system could destroy more than one warhead with a single interceptor, increasing the effectiveness of the difficult ballistic missile defense.

A kill vehicle keeps people safe by destroying an incoming missile before it reaches its destination. It is the part of an interceptor that strikes an incoming warhead, using force of impact alone to limit effects on the ground.

All of today's major U.S. missile defense systems use the hit-to-kill force-of-impact technology pioneered by Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale.

The ultra-high-performance system will operate outside of the atmosphere while traveling thousands of miles per hour.

Such a system could thwart an attack involving a single missile that releases a group of objects that includes the warhead plus decoys that are warhead look-alikes.

Under the $9.7 million contract, Lockheed Martin will develop a system concept for use on the interceptors used by the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the nation's ballistic missile defense system.

The company will consider advanced sensor, communication and divert-and-attitude control technologies and approaches, and will identify methods for reducing technical risks. This approach not only will expand the defense of the United States against potential missile attacks, but also will require fewer interceptors to do so.