Elara Nova: The Space Consultancy’s Post

What’s next for missile defense technology? Learn how Northrop Grumman’s partnership with the Missile Defense Agency is shaping the future of advanced missile test vehicles. Full story on ExecutiveBiz: https://lnkd.in/g2dDrjfq __ #MissileDefenseAgency #NorthropGrumman

Boeing Defense, Space & Security Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seeker program, which builds the component that enables the most advanced interceptors used by the Patriot system to identify, track and intercept fast-moving threats, is off to a record-setting start in 2024. The program surpassed its previous three- and six-month rolling PAC-3 seeker production records, and is also on pace to break its annual seeker production record by over 20% by year-end. “The PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement — equipped with a Boeing seeker — saves lives,” said Jim Bryan, director of Integrated Air & Missile Defence. “U.S. and allied service members and civilians rely on what our teammates build and deliver, so we’re ramping up production to provide more protection in more places to help meet the need for this capability.” PAC-3 seekers provide the most advanced interceptors used by the Patriot system with precision target location data to defeat everything from incoming ballistic and cruise missiles to hostile aircraft and other advanced weapons. Seventeen countries around the world now have PAC-3 interceptors, including most recently Ukraine. Find out more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dmdZR7rX #airdefence #missiledefence #Patriot #PAC3 #seeker #missile #interceptor #Boeing #defence #industry #military #technology #armedforces #production

Northrop Grumman Cleared for Production of NGI Target Vehicle https://ift.tt/17ICXPZ CHANDLER, Ariz. – Jan. 9, 2025 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is developing the Modified Ballistic Re-Entry Vehicle-11 (MBRV-11) supporting the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP) to test the Next Generation... via Northrop Grumman https://ift.tt/wNd0kJr January 09, 2025 at 06:30AM

“While the goal of making [Defense Acquisition] more modern is to drive better applications for the warfighter, the only way you get there is by making your day to day jobs better.” At Missile Defense Agency’s Industry Innovation Summit, CEO Tara Murphy Dougherty outlines how Ark can strengthen defense readiness and improve warfighting capabilities.

Stratolaunch wins $25m for hypersonic flight testing The USA’s Missile Defense Agency has awarded Stratolaunch $24.7 million for flight testing to help develop anti-hypersonic missile defense systems. The project funded by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will modify Stratolaunch’s Spirit of Mojave 747 launch platform so that the Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle can be used beyond the US western coast, where testing has so far taken place, to a variety of global locations. Click here for full article: https://lnkd.in/evkKkKHg Image: Stratolaunch's 747 Spirit of Mojave launch platform will be used to launch Talon-A vehicles in support of the USA's Missile Defense Agency agreement. #flighttest #hypersonic #defense #aerospace #aerospacetesting

🤩 The United States Air Force has tested its Stand-in Attack Weapon from an F-16 Fighting Falcon, marking the missile’s first successful launch from an aircraft. The SiAW air-to-surface missile is designed to target rapidly relocatable threats such as cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and jamming platforms. While the missile lacked a rocket motor and internal electronics, the demonstration tested the SiAW’s ability to separate from an aircraft using a specific tool, the jettison test vehicle. The test, described by the US Air Force as a milestone in developing the SiAW and integrating it with aircraft fleets, follows the delivery of a prototype for testing by the missile manufacturer Northrop Grumman last month. #military #army #defense #security #technology #innovation #us #nationalsecurity #missiles

https://lnkd.in/gW-fRKcC Breaking News: Poland Develops Missile Capable of Reaching Moscow Poland has tested its first domestically developed ballistic missile, a major milestone in its defense modernization. The three-stage rocket, spearheaded by the Polish Armaments Group, can deliver a 40 kg payload to an altitude exceeding 100 km. Experts highlight its potential capability of reaching Moscow within minutes, reflecting Poland's growing ambitions in advanced weapons development. This project, backed by $23 million from the European Regional Development Fund, uses solid-fuel propulsion and features a powerful engine generating a thrust of 39,500 Newtons. While currently designated for research, the technology is seen as a stepping stone to Poland's strategic defense advancements. The initiative aligns with NATO’s broader strategy to modernize military arsenals, positioning Poland as a key player in regional security and missile technology.

The importance of land launched Long Range Precision Strike capability can not be understated. With the development of AUKUS Pillar 2 and MDTF the investment in these capabilities is central to our ‘One launcher, many payloads’ vision for the British Army’s Deep Fires modernisation programme. To quote a paragraph from the article: ‘At the heart of the MDTF’s formidable firepower is the Precision Strike Missile – successor to the powerful Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) which is now changing the shape of the battlefield in Ukraine. Co-developed with Australia, and planned for the British army, this missile enables strikes on high-value targets deep within enemy territory. As a ballistic weapon, it is considerably harder to defend against than cruise missiles such as the well known Tomahawk.’

To be fair ... no one does. One of the aspects of hypersonics (excess of Mach 5 - 3300mph or 5300 kph @ 40k feet or higher) that is often missed (and I am not saying it is missed here by the OP) is the physics of the culmination of missile intercept. Unlike the movies, missile-based in-air intercepts (air-to-air or surface/sea-t-air) are not (almost never) designed to culminate with impact and explosion. Missiles do not hit their targets, but rather tend to explode in front or near the target, and it is the blast and fragmentation that damages the airframe in an attempt to make that airframe unstable or non-lift/glide capable. In this case, one of the contributing challenges to Hypersonic or HGV intercept is the drastic distance in the physics related to the mechanism for destruction of the incoming vehicle/warhead. I do suspect however, that they U.S. and its close allies have advantages over other states due to the developments in ballistic missile defense over the last years as most BM re-entries occur at hypersonic velocities.

The NAVY show an interesting approach to solving the problem of long-range interception of attacking aircraft and, by the way, ballistic missiles as well https://lnkd.in/eaBa4Qzw