Northrop Grumman is redesigning the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target vehicle for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
It includes replacing the target’s Trident C4 first stage solid rocket motor with a Peacekeeper SR119 motor, extending its range, lift capability, and payload capacity.
The retired SR119 second stage motor was modified for the purpose with minimal design change, Northrop explained in a press release.
A static fire of the motor was conducted in 2022 and initial integration “pathfinding operations” in June 2024, in collaboration with the MDA and the US Air Force Rocket Systems Launch Program.
The tests validated the motor’s ability to serve as the first stage in the redesigned target vehicle.
Redesigning Through Virtual Reality
Virtual and augmented reality were leveraged during the vehicle’s redesign, “animating the vehicle’s factory integration and field operations, known as pathfinding,” Northrop explained.
It is the first time virtual and augmented reality were leveraged in target programs by the company.
“Pathfinding provides a lower risk setting to fully vet new integration, stacking and test operations on inert hardware,” the firm added.
“Virtually simulating the vehicle’s pathfinding operations further buys down risk, enhances end-to-end test capability and optimizes processes to deliver the critical capability with agility.”
To Test US Missile Defense
The redesigned target completed the critical design review earlier this month, with the first flight slated to take place in late 2025.
It will simulate long-range ballistic missile threats during future missile defense testing, including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
“Our approach to building target vehicles enables us to pair new and proven technologies together to create the best solution to meet customer needs,” Northrop Grumman’s director of targets Robin Heard said.
“It’s about finding the right balance of affordability and innovation – combining capable, government-owned surplus motors and sophisticated front ends to simulate current and emerging threats.”
Northrop is the prime contractor for the ICBM target vehicles, delivering 25 vehicles and supporting the launch of 10 in the last 13 years.