U.S. ballistic missile defense experts are asking Lockheed Martin Corp. to refine the electro-optical sensor and seeker design of an advanced missile interceptor able to destroy several incoming ballistic missile warheads and decoys using just one missile.
Officials of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Ala., announced a $53.1 million contract last week to the Lockheed Space Systems segment in Sunnyvale, Calif., for the Multi-Object Kill Vehicle MOKV technology risk reduction (TRR) effort.
As many as six MOKVs will launch on one booster rocket, deploy at the edge of space, steer toward, and destroy several incoming ballistic missile warheads and decoys using separate kinetic hit-to-kill weapons.
This contract calls for Lockheed Martin experts to refine their design for the MOKV gimbaled seeker assembly, integrated avionics assembly, and advanced seeker, as well as carry out component integration and testing.