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.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
