The Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) payload is designed to intercept hostile ballistic missile targets outside the atmosphere in the midcourse phase of flight.

The delivered payloads evolved from the EKV design that has been successfully flight tested over the last four years. By September, Raytheon will have delivered all required EKVs for the GMD program's initial deployment and testing.

The initial payloads are the first of 20 kill vehicles scheduled for delivery over the next two years for deployment at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

To satisfy the GMD deployment requirements, Raytheon built a world-class manufacturing facility combining the quality of spacecraft manufacturing and the cost efficiency of high-rate missile production.

"Delivery of the initial EKVs marks a significant milestone in meeting the December 2002 presidential directive to deploy an initial missile defense capability for the United States," said Paul J. Walker, Raytheon vice president for Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicles.

"The delivery of these payloads is the result of the commitment and dedication of employees from both Raytheon and the entire EKV team. Raytheon is proud to provide our fellow citizens with the ability to defend our homeland against the threat of ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction."

Raytheon is also responsible for the manufacture and deployment of the Standard Missile-3 interceptor for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program, which provides the capability to intercept ballistic missile threats from forward-deployed Aegis ships.

Raytheon is also providing the Sea-Based X-band (SBX) and Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) for the GMD segment, the Space Tracking and Surveillance System payload, the BMDS Radar, and THAAD radar and battle management software. The Boeing Company is the prime contractor for the Ground-based Missile Defense program.

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