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.
Bell Textron is now building a new vertical takeoff and landing X-plane, the X-76, that can achieve jet-like speeds, aimed at special operations missions and cutting ties to traditional runway-based aircraft.