Northrop Grumman Begins Testing 'Cold-Launch' System That Makes Kinetic Energy Interceptors Mobile, Global, Flexible
"...Northrop Grumman is developing the cold-launch system for KEI based on those it has supplied for U.S. Navy submarines since the 1950s as well as those used on silo-based Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles. That work is underway at company facilities in
"Eject or cold launch technology is a proven approach used on Navy submarines for many years," Spehar noted. "Using this very safe technology, we can launch large or highly energetic missiles, such as KEI, because only a small amount of propellant is needed to eject the interceptor compared with igniting the first stage rocket motor."
Featuring the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's newest high-acceleration booster, KEI's launch system is designed to eject an interceptor about 200 feet in the air before the first stage rocket motor ignites. For KEI, about 70 pounds of propellant is ignited in the gas generator to eject the approximate 25,000-pound missile. ..."
Reference: www.northropgrumman.com
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