MDA Plans KEI Flight Dry Run
Amy Butler abutler@aviationweek.com 
In preparation for the first Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) flight test in late summer, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is planning a dry run using a dummy interceptor in mid-April.
Hardware that replicates the equipment that will be used in the first test, including the electronics and thrust vector control elements, has been delivered to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., since January. This replica interceptor lacks the energetics - or first and second stage motors - that will be in the actual missile fired in the summer, according to Chuck Ross, vice president of the KEI program for Raytheon. KEI teammates include Northrop Grumman and Alliant Techsystems.
The simulated flight test will include a full, dry run of countdown operations and post-launch procedures, but no launch will take place, says Dave Leslie, Raytheon's program director for the KEI.
Two ground-test firings remain for the second stage and one for the first prior to the summer flight test. The motors are built by ATK.
The goal of the flight test this summer is to execute full burn of the two stages and to measure the burn velocity of the two stages. The first stage is expected to burn about 35 seconds with the second firing for about 24 seconds.
If implemented, KEI could be a mobile, high-energy missile providing a better boost-phase and midcourse ballistic hit-to-kill capability. Besides the original land-based design, proponents have eyed a sea-based configuration on Aegis ships and, possibly, submarines (Aerospace DAILY, Nov. 17, 2008). Such improved boosting and mobility capabilities also have led past MDA officials to note alleged interest by allies wary of high-profile Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors.
But KEI's future has often been doubted (Aerospace DAILY, Feb. 5, 2009). Tests come as the missile defense community is bracing for potential funding cuts from the Obama administration. Both KEI and the Airborne Laser (ABL) have not yet achieved major graduation milestones and represent distant capabilities. As such, some suspect they could be cut in favor of buying more of today's systems, such as the Aegis system.
Photo credit: Missile Defense Agency
