Boeing failed the creation of an ICBM interceptor

The US Department of Defense decided to terminate the contract with Boeing Corporation, which provided for the development of the kinetic interceptor Redesigned Kill Vehicle (RKV), designed to destroy warheads of ICBMs outside the atmosphere in the middle of their flight path.

Actual work was carried out by Raytheon, acting as a subcontractor to Boeing. It was assumed that the 64 units of the new product will replace the existing EKV interceptors, which are one of the most important components of the American missile defense. They hit warhead ballistic missiles by directly colliding with them at high speed. It was expected that the creation of a modernized version - RKV - will eliminate the problems identified during testing of its predecessor EKV.

Now that the RKV project has been drowned, the Pentagon plans to move on by announcing a new competition for the development of next-generation interceptors

- Defense News notes, indicating that the US military has refused to improve existing anti-ballistic missiles, relying on the creation of a completely new product.

This was prompted by the Boeing’s unsuccessful experience, which ultimately failed the task entrusted to it, failing to fulfill the requirements of the Ministry of Defense.

The technical problems during the design were so significant that they were either insurmountable or costly to fix

- explained in the Pentagon.

Comments

[rotmistr60]

when the RKV project was drowned, the Pentagon plans to move on by announcing a new competition ...

And how long does it take for the Pentagon to get what it wants? But Russia also does not stand still. By hypersound ahead, by modern ballistic missiles too. The question immediately arises - why then run into Russia, push it toward an arms race, threaten if there is practically nothing to resist Russian missiles (which is morally obsolete). Today, the United States incurs much higher costs than Russia in the production of modern weapons.

[Aerodrome]

kinetic interception, a disastrous direction, perhaps shrapnel is better?

[Avior]

Not for a ballistic purpose.
This aerodynamic can be damaged and it will collapse in flight, it is necessary to destroy the ballistic, or it will fly anyway.

[bogart047]

in what condition will it fly? If it damages part of the onboard equipment, it may not explode.

[Avior]

The probability of this is noticeably lower than for aerodynamic

[Sergeantpro]

In the normal state will fly. Combat ready.

[voyaka uh]

"a failed direction is probably better with shrapnel" ///
----
The Americans conducted tests: shrapnel does not damage the warhead enough to prevent it from working. Therefore, we switched to a direct hit.
"Killer" hits fine. Failed, apparently, the project to create a "bus" of dozens of killers against the massive launch of warheads.

[Valerik1337]

We will bankrupt them

[eagle owl]

Given that the Boeing recently famously hit the money with the crash of 737 Max, as well as with poor-quality assembly 787 Dreamliner. the failure of another project may even fail them. And then the Pentagon risks nothing and never wait ... Who will do something?

[vadson]

Well, it’s unlikely to go bankrupt. they are all only subcontractors. designed the tone they and Raytheon

[eagle owl]

... and Boeing’s shares will fall, because it was the Boeing who lost the money that it would receive from the Ministry of Defense for missiles ... Westinghouse went bankrupt with the only Vogtl nuclear power plant, and there is clearly less money than one contract for the supply of Boeing-737 to any to a major air carrier, from among those. that from 737 have already been abandoned.
Three shoals in a row - even a Boeing can collapse

[igorbrsv]

. Who will do something?

Like who? This one that the car launched into space

[Avior]

Only the Pentagon lost money in this case. The rest have earned.

[axiles100682]

The fact is that the Yankees are well aware that we do not have and never had plans to attack anyone and be the first to use nuclear weapons. We have a reverse policy and nuclear weapons only for a retaliatory strike. What are they afraid of our superiority in hypersound and perfect ICBMs ?

[Forest]

I hope the Boeing sues them for a torn contract)

[E.S.]

So, it turns out that the new interceptor is able to intercept only cash flows.
And what then to say about what is now in service ????

[yehat]

Quote: Uhu

Given that the Boeing recently famously hit the money with the crash of 737 Max, as well as with poor-quality assembly 787 Dreamliner. the failure of another project may even fail them. And then the Pentagon risks nothing and never wait ... Who will do something?

these are sensitive losses only for bonuses of some managers.
The Boeing has many other income items - from sales of other products to after-sales services + huge stocks from broiler sales.

[Operator]

The ability to intercept at least one ICBM / SLBM / SLBM in the conditions of anti-radar counteraction in the form of electromagnetic radiation from high-altitude nuclear explosions is a taxpayer’s money for money.

[Sergeantpro]

Quote: Aerodrome

kinetic interception, a disastrous direction, perhaps shrapnel is better?

What are you? Since when has this direction become a failure and who appointed it as such? Kinetic interception with a probability of 1.0 learned to carry out in the USSR in the early 80's. Tests at the site of Sary-Shagan google;)

[Sergeantpro]

Quote: Operator

The ability to intercept at least one ICBM / SLBM / SLBM in the conditions of anti-radar counteraction in the form of electromagnetic radiation from high-altitude nuclear explosions is a taxpayer’s money for money.

Truth? How are you going to destroy warheads at the stage of separation of warheads? How to make sure that the warhead is out of order and ensure that it deviates sufficiently from the trajectory to prevent missile defense overruns? Even the undermining of nuclear warheads does not guarantee destruction in the orbital section, because at one time ours had to increase the power of charges from 150-300 Kt to 1-2 Mt.