The Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) was a planned U.S.
missile defense
Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception, and also the destruction of attacking missiles. Conceived as a defense against nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), ...
program whose goal was to design, develop, and deploy
kinetic energy
In physics, the kinetic energy of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion.
It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acce ...
-based, mobile, ground and sea-launched missiles that could intercept and destroy enemy ballistic missiles during their boost, ascent and midcourse phases of flight. The KEI consisted of the Interceptor Component (
kinetic projectile
A kinetic energy weapon (also known as kinetic weapon, kinetic energy warhead, kinetic warhead, kinetic projectile, kinetic kill vehicle) is a weapon based solely on a projectile's kinetic energy instead of an explosive or any other kind of payl ...
), the Mobile Launcher Component, and the Command, Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) component.
On 7 May 2009, the KEI program was canceled due primarily to financial reasons.
First stage rocket motor tests
There were five first-stage rocket motor tests planned to be carried out by Alliant Techsystems (ATK) in Promontory, Utah.
The second test firing of a KEI
first stage rocket motor was conducted on 14 June 2007. The static firing included a full duration burn and a demonstration of the thrust vector control nozzle.
The fourth test firing of the first-stage rocket motor was completed on November 13, 2008. The test demonstrated a successful operation of the first-stage rocket motor in its final flight configuration that was to be used during a Summer 2009 flight test. Due to the cancellation of KEI in May 2009, this test did not occur.
Some KEI program implementation and funding history
On 7 May 2009,
Missile Defense Agency
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is the section of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a layered defense against ballistic missiles. It had its origins in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) which w ...
executive director David Altwegg announced that KEI would be canceled due to technical and financial reasons. The announcement had previously been overlooked during Defense Secretary
Robert Gates
Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is an American intelligence analyst and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was originally appointed by president George W. Bush a ...
' April 6 press conference on changing priorities in the FY10 defense budget.
See also
*
Missile Defense Agency
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is the section of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a layered defense against ballistic missiles. It had its origins in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) which w ...
References
External links
*
*http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/kei.htm
*http://www.northropgrumman.com/missiledefense/ProgramInfo/KEI.html
{{US missiles
Anti-ballistic missiles of the United States
Abandoned military rocket and missile projects of the United States