By Marina Malenic
Raytheon [RTN] is developing a new air-launched missile capable of shooting down ballistic missiles shortly after they are launched.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded the company a $10 million contract for research and development on the Net-Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE), a company official said on Sept. 17.
NCADE is a two-stage missile with an infrared seeker about the size of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), Thomas Keck, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president for Air Force programs, said on the sidelines of last month’s Air Force Association conference in Washington.
Keck said any aircraft capable of carrying AMRAAM would also be able to carry the new missile.
“This contract demonstrates how interested MDA is in this capability,” he said. Currently, the only other development system that would give the agency a similar capability is the Airborne Laser.
Keck explained that the first stage of the new missile is derived from the AMRAAM rocket motor, while the second has both endo- and exo-atmospheric capability.
According to Raytheon officials, there has also been a great deal of international interest in NCADE. Over 30 countries currently have AMRAAM in their arsenals.
Keck said that MDA last year conducted an intercept test of an AIM-9X missile with a seeker similar to the one that will be carried on NCADE.
“That test was successful,” he said, adding that the company is hoping to begin a program of record in about two years. An intercept test of the complete NCADE missile is expected in 2010.
Officials estimated that each missile would cost around $1 million if approved for production.