Lockheed Martin-led THAAD team achieves second target missile intercept
Contact: Jeffery Adams (408) 742-7606
Pager: (888) 916-1796
jeffery.adams@lmco.com
White Sands Missile Range, NM, Aug. 2, 1999 - For the second time in less
than two months, the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon
system, managed by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, intercepted a target
missile over White Sands Missile Range, NM.
The successful test, conducted by the U.S. Army, Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization (BMDO) and a contractor team led by Missiles & Space, moves the
vital defensive missile system one step closer toward deployment.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the successful outcome of today's THAAD
flight test, which further validates the feasibility of hit-to-kill
technology," said Thomas A. Corcoran, president and chief operating officer,
Lockheed Martin Space & Strategic Missile Sector. "It is a critical
accomplishment in moving toward Engineering and Manufacturing Development,
the next step in getting this urgently needed defensive missile system into
the hands of our soldiers."
The intercept occurred outside the earth's atmosphere, over the central
portion of the national missile range. The target, which differed from
previous THAAD flight tests, simulated a Scud ballistic missile with a
separating warhead. This success marks a critical milestone for the program,
as it was the first intercept of a simulated Scud missile outside the
earth's atmosphere that presented a separating warhead target.
All segments of the THAAD weapon system were successfully integrated during
the flight test. These systems included the radar, Battle Management
Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (BM/C3I), launcher and
missile.
"The entire THAAD team - from Lockheed Martin to our government customer ñ
has worked together to demonstrate extraordinary capabilities that truly
exemplify the meaning of perseverance," Corcoran said. "This success
validates the initiatives we have taken by embracing the brightest minds in
the industry and strengthening the internal management and processes on this
vital defensive missile program. It is a tribute to every contributor on
the THAAD team."
Today's test was the eleventh in a planned series of THAAD Program
Definition Risk Reduction flight tests to verify the THAAD prototype design
and performance of system components.
"By achieving a target intercept, under a more stressing flight test
scenario, we have been able to obtain the final missile design information
required to move this program forward," said THAAD Vice President Ed
Squires.
Corcoran added, "We are committed from the highest levels of the Corporation
to mission success on THAAD and we will not be deterred from our goal of
moving on to the next phase of this program."
Previous flight tests have:
* verified the ability of the missile's guidance and control system to
process radar-provided target information;
* proven the design of the Palletized Load System launcher, the solid
rocket motor, the THAAD radar, and BMC3I system;
* validated the THAAD Energy Management Steering maneuver, which
allows the missile to reduce speed immediately after it leaves the canister
to remain within range safety constraints.
For Lockheed Martin, THAAD represents the culmination of several decades of
development and testing activities conducted under earlier BMDO programs --
including the Homing Overlay Experiment and the Exo-atmospheric Re-entry
Interceptor Subsystem. Technologies such as body-to-body intercept and
target tracking and characterization originally conceived and developed
under these programs have been applied to THAAD so the U.S. Army can field a
robust, flexible and mobile theater missile defense.
THAAD is the first weapon system being designed specifically to defend U.S.
and allied soldiers, military assets and population centers from the threat
of a theater ballistic missile attack, both inside and outside the
atmosphere. To achieve the lethality required to defeat weapons of mass
destruction, the THAAD system destroys the target through direct,
"hit-to-kill" impact. This technology employs mass and velocity in lieu of
explosive warheads.
The program is managed by the BMDO and is executed by the U.S. Army Program
Executive Office, Air and Missile Defense, and the U.S. Army THAAD Project
Manager in Huntsville, AL.
Missiles & Space, based in Sunnyvale, CA, is an operating unit of Lockheed
Martin's Space & Strategic Missile Sector headquartered in Bethesda, MD.
The company designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of advanced
technology systems for space and defense. Primary products of Missiles &
Space include missile defense systems, fleet ballistic missiles and
spacecraft for commercial and government customers.
For high-resolution images of the THAAD missile system go to:
http://lmms.external.lmco.com/photos/defensive_missile_systems/theater_hi_alt_area_def_thaad/thaad.html
For more information about Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space, see our website
at
http://lmms.external.lmco.com
August 1999
99- 176
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