Orbital ATK OBV Rocket and ICBM Target Successfully Complete Missile Defense Interceptor Test
May 30 2017 - 6:43PM
Business Wire
Company’s Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
(GMD) Booster Completes 15th Consecutive
Flight
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, successfully launched and tested its Orbital Boost
Vehicle (OBV) rocket for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) as
part of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) FTG-15 Flight
Test. The company also supplied its Intercontinental Ballistic
Missile (ICBM) target rocket for this critical national security
system test.
The OBV was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California,
on May 30, 2017. Orbital ATK provides the OBV to MDA as part of an
industry team led by The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA).
“This flight test was a major undertaking for Orbital ATK as we
supplied both the boost vehicle for the interceptor and the
target,” said Rich Straka, Vice President and General Manager of
Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division. “Today’s successful test
confirms the United States’ missile defense program stands ready to
protect against long-range missile attacks, and we are proud to be
a part of that team.”
FTG-15 was the first flight of the “C2” configuration of the
OBV, which includes upgraded avionics and safety systems to address
new requirements and obsolescence issues with the legacy vehicles.
It was also the first flight of the ICBM range target. MDA’s goal
is to expand the Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) fleet to 44
missiles by the end of 2017.
“Orbital ATK is honored to be a part of MDA’s charge to
strengthen the national defenses from 30 to 44 GBI Interceptors in
2017,” said Straka. “We understand the importance of this goal and,
we are focused on mission success.”
Following a preliminary post-flight analysis of the data
collected from the mission, MDA and the GMD team confirmed all
primary OBV objectives for the interceptor test were achieved.
These included pre-launch built-in test functionality, silo launch
and fly out of the OBV, and accurate booster delivery of the
Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) to enable intercept of the
target.
The MDA/Orbital ATK ICBM Team also confirmed nominal operation
of the target, meeting all primary mission objectives. The ICBM is
largest target in a broader family of targets that Orbital ATK
supplies to the MDA for Ballistic Missile Defense System
testing.
Orbital ATK’s missile defense interceptors and related target
vehicles are primarily produced at the company’s engineering and
manufacturing facility in Chandler, Arizona, with solid rocket
motor propulsion manufactured in Magna, Utah, and its vehicle
assembly and integration facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
California, and Huntsville, Alabama.
Today’s OBV mission was executed under the GMD Development and
Sustainment Contract, which continues through at least 2018.
Orbital ATK developed the OBV under a multi-year contract with
Boeing that began in 2002. Together the OBV and the EKV comprise
the GBI, which is assembled by Boeing.
The ICBM target was provided under the Intermediate Range
Ballistic Missile contract, which continues at least thru 2019 with
options for additional target vehicles and launches.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 12,500 people in 18 states across the U.S. and in
several international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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Orbital ATKMedia Contact:Trina Patterson,
801-699-0943Group Lead Public
Relationstrina.patterson@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528Public and Investor
Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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