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A Raytheon Company, Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) demonstrated successful two-stage flyout on June 6, 2010 during the latest test of the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. Raytheon's EKV met all test objectives, gathering critical data on kill vehicle performance that will improve the fidelity of its simulation models.

"This test once again demonstrates the reliability and quality of Raytheon's Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "The knowledge we gained will strengthen our nation's shield against threat ballistic missiles."

The EKV is the intercept component of the GBI, which is the weapon element of the GMD system. Its mission in the defense of the nation is to engage high-speed ballistic missile warheads in the midcourse phase of flight and to destroy them using only the force of impact or hit-to-kill.