On Dec. 18, the Missile Defense Agency will present to industry its plan for developing by 2009 kinetic-energy interceptors that can destroy ballistic missiles as they travel through their boost and ascent phases of flight, which can last up to 600 seconds after launch. During the unclassified briefing in Arlington, VA, MDA officials will explain the plan is to first demonstrate a kinetic-energy interceptor capability against boost- and ascent-phase missiles with the interceptors carried on a "deployable ground-based launch platform,"...
