The Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) industry team, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation, has completed full-scale "pathfinder" ground operations in preparation for the weapon system's booster flight test scheduled for later this year. Pathfinder operations are dry runs and rehearsals preceding an actual flight test or launch, including all aspects of vehicle preparations, ground operations and range safety systems.
The pathfinder team assembled a full-scale, flight-like booster using inert rocket motors and flight-qualified structures to fully validate all interfaces with the booster, ground support equipment and facility structures.
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Odd that it has a 1 metre diameter - too large for existing Tomahawk VLSs. Still, they could be clustered in Ohio SLBM tubes or miniturised to Tomahawk size..
ReplyDeleteWhy it is theoretically restricted to "kinetic energy" no explosive option? Is odd or just misleading.
In the serious business of shooting down ballistic missiles a nuclear warhead within the interceptor is what will surely happen. It can then confidently destroy one or several ascending target missiles.
Pete