The Missile Defense Agency aims to flight test a redesigned component of the Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptor later this month in a bid to evaluate the efficacy of recent third-stage rocket motor engineering changes, a prerequisite to advancing long-delayed plans to transition the Raytheon program to full-rate production. The flight test is to focus on a new nozzle that -- if proven -- could be retrofitted on to the third-stage rocket motors of fielded Block IB missiles as well...