Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully launched its redesigned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target vehicle for the first time, demonstrating a new capability for missile defense flight test missions.

The redesigned ICBM target included a decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBM second stage motor provided by the Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) and met all performance goals for the missile defense test event, verifying the target’s enhanced capabilities and longevity to support future missile defense tests. The use of digital tools optimized processes, increased operational safety, enhanced end-to-end test capability and contributed to a 25% reduction in field execution during Pathfinder operations before supporting the successful maiden launch.

Northrop Grumman’s redesigned ICBM target vehicle leverages an integrated digital ecosystem and digital technologies, including:

• A digital twin of the target that provided a virtual representation of the real-world system streamlining, manufacturing, test and integration of the physical target vehicle that was regularly synchronized with its physical counterpart.
• Virtual reality pathfinders, which are digital simulations used to predict and plan every step of the vehicle’s factory integration and stacking operations ahead of the vehicle’s first flight test. These simulations help identify and resolve issues before they occur in the physical world, saving time and resources.
• Augmented reality applied to the interstage integration process significantly reducing mechanical assembly time.

Robin Heard, Director of Targets and Interceptors, Northrop Grumman, commented: “By embedding digital technology into every phase of the ICBM target redesign and new integration processes, we have streamlined field operations, enhanced operational safety and driven cost-effectiveness for our customers. The significant efficiencies identified during the redesigned target’s first pathfinding and maiden launch will positively impact future flight tests.” 

ICBM target vehicles are threat-representative ballistic missiles used by the MDA to test the efficacy of the nation’s missile defense systems, including the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and Ground-based Midcourse Defense System. Northrop Grumman has delivered 27 vehicles to date and supported 12 successful launches since 2011.

This new ICBM target features a repurposed Peacekeeper SR119 solid rocket motor as its first stage, providing increased performance in range, apogee and payload capacity for ICBM target missions. Northrop Grumman’s ICBM target is compatible with advanced front ends to simulate sophisticated, long-range ballistic missile threats.

Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of threat representative target vehicles used in the test and verification of the nation’s missile defense systems. The company prioritizes cost-effectiveness by repurposing decommissioned motors from discontinued programs and leveraging its portfolio of common avionics components and adaptable kits that can be rapidly configured to represent customer-specified adversary threats.

Northrop Grumman is the leading global aerospace and defense technology company. The company’s pioneering solutions equip customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe.