Lockheed Martin completes first pathfinder seeker for Missile Defense Agency

SUNNYVALE, 21 March 2006. Lockheed Martin has completed the first kill vehicle pathfinder seeker for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Multiple Kill Vehicle System.

Lockheed Martin currently is testing the pathfinder seeker in its hardware-in-the-loop facility. In doing so, the company created a vibration environment similar to the one the kill vehicle will experience performing its mission. Under optical and electrical testing, the pathfinder seeker and associated kill vehicle electronics have been demonstrating full functionality.

In the event of an enemy launch, a single interceptor equipped with the Multiple Kill Vehicle payload system will destroy the enemy lethal reentry vehicle, along with any countermeasures deployed, to try and spoof the missile defense system. This many-on-many strategy reduces the need for extensive pre-launch intelligence and leverages the Ballistic Missile Defense System discrimination capability.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor for the Multiple Kill Vehicle payload system. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., executes the program for the Missile Defense Agency.