Oil prices steady near 1-mth high on US-Iran sanctions; OPEC+ meeting awaited
Investing.com -- Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) successfully launched a threat-representative target for the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Long Range Discrimination Radar non-intercept operational flight test on Sunday.
The target was dropped from a C-17 transport aircraft before igniting in the air and completing its mission. This air-launch capability provides geographic flexibility, allowing the target to be launched to and from various locations and follow different trajectories to meet mission requirements.
"Through partnership with MDA, we design and launch target vehicles that replicate threats warfighters are likely to encounter operationally," said Robin Heard, director of targets and interceptors at Northrop Grumman. "Our target vehicles play a critical role in testing the missile defense systems that defend the nation and our allies to ensure they will be effective when it matters most."
Northrop Grumman rapidly configures these target vehicles to replicate current and emerging adversary threats by combining advanced avionics, adaptable vehicle enhancement kits, advanced payloads and expertise in solid rocket motors.
The company has delivered 26 target vehicles and supported 11 missile defense flight tests since 2011. The remaining target vehicles will be used in future tests to support MDA’s Integrated Master Test Plan.
These targets are mission-tailored to emulate customer-specified threats and are used to test various missile defense systems including the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and Patriot air defense system.
As a trusted integrator and provider of threat-representative targets, Northrop Grumman applies its capabilities to develop new target technologies including multi-launch vehicles and advanced front ends.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.