CHANDLER, Ariz. – Aug. 27, 2024 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is redesigning the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target vehicle for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The new design replaces the target’s heritage Trident C4 first stage solid rocket motor with a Peacekeeper SR119 motor to provide extended range, lift capability and payload capacity for ICBM target missions. Northrop Grumman leveraged virtual and augmented reality to fully animate and validate the target vehicle’s new integration and stacking operations, which will be demonstrated later this year. Northrop Grumman modified the retired SR119 rocket motor to serve as a first stage motor, meeting mission performance requirements with minimal changes to its original design. The new ICBM design creates target longevity to support future missile defense testing. The company completed the Critical Design Review of its redesigned ICBM target earlier this month, and the redesigned vehicle is slated to take its first flight in late 2025. It will be compatible with advanced front ends to simulate sophisticated, long-range ballistic missile threats. A rendering of Northrop Grumman’s new ICBM target design, which replaces the vehicle’s heritage Trident 1 C4 first stage motor with the SR119 solid rocket motor. (Credit: Northrop Grumman) Expert: […]
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