The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Boeing a $58.6 million contract for the multi-object vehicle (MKV) technology risk reduction effort with an estimated completion date of May 12, 2020. Lockheed Martin was awarded a similar contract in March after Boeing, Lockheed, and Raytheon all received proof-of-concept deals in 2015. Raytheon built and deployed a related Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle in 2010, which has successfully intercepted ballistic missiles in testing. The MKV would be designed to destroy multiple incoming ballistic missiles simultaneously, including decoy missiles. Last month, US Strategic Command boss Gen. John Hyten emphasized the importance of developing a reliable kill vehicle in light of the North Korean ballistic missile threat, and he said the program is likely to be part of the upcoming ballistic missile defense review directed by the White House.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
