Kinetic Energy Interceptor Team Completes Missile Defense Test of Enhanced Rocket Motor

Kinetic Energy Interceptor Team Completes Missile Defense Test of Enhanced Rocket Motor

TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN) and Northrop Grumman Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) team
fired a Stage 2 rocket motor featuring an enhanced nozzle and upgraded
ballistics. The firing occurred at the Alliant Techsystems' test facility in Elkton, Md., Sept. 25.

KEI is a land-based missile defense system featuring the Missile
Defense Agency's newest rapid acceleration interceptor. Fully deployed, the mobile system will have the capability to destroy medium, intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles in their boost, ascent and midcourse phases of flight.

"This test builds additional confidence in our booster design and
demonstrates significant progress toward our first flight test in 2009,"
said Chuck Ross, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of KEI. "This
firing paves the way for future tests in high-altitude environments."

KEI features a compact, lightweight design that enables mobility and
flexible deployment.

Northrop Grumman is leading the team charged with developing and
testing a KEI capability for the Missile Defense Agency. Raytheon leads the program's interceptor development work. Alliant Techsystems is Raytheon's principal subcontractor and is responsible for performing Stage 1 and Stage 2 rocket-motor development work.

Orbital Sciences will integrate the booster and prepare range
operations for the 2009 flight.

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Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), Missiles, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon