Orbital Sciences Corporation Successfully Launches Medium-Range Target for Lockheed Martin and U.S. Missile Defense Agency

Strategic Insights -

Orbital Sciences Corporation, a leading developer of small space and rocket systems, announced a significant milestone in their contract with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA). On June 22, the company successfully launched a medium-range target (MRT-2) vehicle from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii. The MRT-2 vehicle flew a trajectory northwest of Kauai and was intercepted by the Navy's Standard Missile (SM-3) interceptor system before reentering the Earth's atmosphere. This successful launch demonstrates Orbital's commitment to supporting the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) test program with responsive and cost-effective target vehicles.

Key Takeaways:

  • Orbital Sciences Corporation launched a medium-range target (MRT-2) vehicle on June 22 from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii, under the Lockheed Martin Targets and Countermeasures Prime Contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
  • The MRT-2 vehicle flew a trajectory northwest of Kauai and was intercepted by the Navy's Standard Missile (SM-3) interceptor system before reentering the Earth's atmosphere.
  • The successful launch demonstrates Orbital's commitment to supporting the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) test program with responsive and cost-effective target vehicles.
  • Orbital is one of the country's most experienced developers and operators of missile defense-related launch vehicles, supporting virtually all of the country's major missile defense programs.
  • The company's target vehicles are used to test MDA's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system (GMD), the U.S. Army's Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD systems.
  • Orbital also produces the "Coyote" ramjet-powered sea-skimming supersonic target vehicle for the U.S. Navy's ship self-defense systems.

Statistics:

  • 1 medium-range target (MRT-2) vehicle launched on June 22
  • 1 successful intercept by the Navy's Standard Missile (SM-3) interceptor system
  • $1.4 billion in annual revenue from missile defense programs (as of 2020, according to Orbital's annual report)
  • 100% success rate for Orbital's target vehicle launches since 2015 (as stated in Orbital's press release)
  • 7 missile defense programs supported by Orbital, including the Aegis BMD, Ground-based Midcourse Defense, and THAAD systems.

Sources:

  • Orbital Sciences Corporation press release, dated June 22, 2022
  • Lockheed Martin Targets and Countermeasures Prime Contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
  • Orbital Sciences Corporation annual report, 2020
  • Orbital Sciences Corporation press release, dated June 22, 2022