Lockheed Martin has received a $3 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency to continue the Air-Launched Hit-to-Kill (ALHTK) initiative that will enable fighter aircraft to carry and launch Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles to intercept hostile ballistic and cruise missiles.

Envisioned to protect the homeland from missile threats, ALHTK will also be able to defend deployed forces. A risk assessment contract that concluded in April 2006 identified the feasibility of pursuing this high pay-off concept. The new risk reduction/concept definition program will refine the risk and further define the concept and expected system performance.

Equipping fighter jets with PAC-3 missiles will provide combat air patrols or scrambled aircraft the ability to defeat cruise missiles and intercept ballistic missiles in asymmetric defense and boost phase applications. Although cruise missile defense capabilities are inherent with this concept, this MDA contract will focus on ALHTK capabilities against ballistic missiles.

The initial operational concept would fit in with North American Air Defense operational architecture, fielded at first on F-15C fighter aircraft. Future development plans may aim to equip other aircraft with the capability.

Lockheed Martin achieved the first-ever hit-to-kill intercept in 1984 with the homing overlay experiment, using force of impact alone to destroy a mock warhead outside of the Earth's atmosphere. Further testing produced today's PAC-3 missile, which won a competition in 1993 to become the first hit-to-kill interceptor produced by the U.S. government. The PAC-3 missile has been the technology pathfinder for today's modern missile defense systems.

Currently, the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Weapon System, PAC-3 missile, the terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) weapon system, the medium extended air defense system (MEADS) and the multiple kill vehicle use this proven advanced technology to deliver lethality against today's most dangerous threats.

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