Ever seen a mock-up of the Multiple Kill Vehicle interceptor?

I lunched at the Army & Navy Club today, attending the George C. Marshall Institute’s Washington Roundtable on Science and Public Policy with MDA Deputy for Advanced Systems Gary Payton.

I expect the Marshall Institute will post a transcript and Payton’s briefing, entitled Advanced Concepts in Missile Defense.

Payton (right) talked a lot about the Multiple Kill Vehicles (MKV, nee Miniature Kill Vehicles) program, bringing along a mockup (above).

The Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) explains the basic idea:

The MKV system will provide a cost effective means for addressing countermeasure suites by intercepting all credible threat objects within a threat cluster with one or more kill vehicles. Practical use of low cost kill vehicles for these applications will require: 1) proper balance of functions between the carrier vehicle and the kill vehicles; and 2) substantial reduction of kill vehicle size, mass, and acquisition cost.

(More from MDA).

Payton said he hoped the MKV program would reach technological readiness level 5 or 6—“breadboard” or experimental models—by FY 07.

Payton outlined remaining challenges for the program in order of priority: micro-electro-mechanical systems, battle management systems, MKV software and then integration issues. (Michael Katz-Hyman actually took notes).

Baker Spring asked if the MKV could be based in space. Payton said no, not as designed, but allowed that components such as MEMS could certainly assist an SBI program. Baker seemed disappointed.

Previously funded in the BMD Technology (PE 603175C) within project 0502 in Engagement Systems, MKV is now funded in BMD Midcourse Defense (PE 0603882C) within project 0515 Multiple Kill Vehicles. Total funding is $82.0 M in 2006 and $1.3 B though FY 2011.