The Northrop Grumman-Raytheon team developing the Kinetic Energy Interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency has completed the first static test firing of the missile’s second-stage rocket motor. It was successful, say company officials. It marks one more step in the push to the program’s first booster flight test in 2008.
On Jan. 4, a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors departed Puerto Rico, where they had landed following their participation in Operation Absolute Resolve. Those fighters appeared to have flown directly from their home base at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., to participate in the operation and returned there two days…

