ATK’s Elkton, Md. site, provided critical components for the recent successful test flight of a missile system aimed at protecting the United States and allies.
Flight Test Mission–19 was launched from a U.S. Navy Aegis Cruiser off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. This test and others have been successful in intercepting and destroying missiles.
ATK supplies the third stage rocket motor to Raytheon Company, the prime contractor for the missile.
The test, code-named Stellar Hecate after a Greek goddess of magic, marks the 23rd successful intercept for the program. Raytheon officials said the test was designed to test the ability of the missile technology to better identify the target.
The latest test involved a short-range missile and the ability of the system to determine the target to strike when the separation is taking place between the stages of the missile.
“What we learned from this mission gives me great confidence in the missile’s production readiness,” said Mitch Stevison, Raytheon program director. The Defense Department is nearing a decision on launching full-scale production of the missiles.
The test, code-named Stellar Hecate after a Greek goddess of magic, marks the 23rd successful intercept for the SM-3 program.
Production of the third stage motor takes place at ATK Defense Group’s location outside Elkton. The motor, according to ATK, has a unique combination of capabilities that permits the guided missile to deal with “a broad range of threats as it intercepts and destroys the threat.”
The development of the systems is taking on greater importance as North Korea develops a nuclear program and missile system.
“The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System continues to demonstrate its effectiveness against threat-representative targets,” said Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of ATK’s Missile Products division. “ATK is a proud member of the SM-3 guided missile team, and this test provides additional validation of the Block IB missile’s production readiness.”
ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 21 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally. The company is based in Arlington, Va..
