Raytheon Missiles & Defense has successfully concluded the System Requirements Review—Prototype (SRR-P) for the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).
The GPI prototype development is a part of the US Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) effort to develop hypersonic weapon system.
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GPI is being designed to provide a new generation defence system to the US and its allied and partner nations to counter emerging hypersonic missile threats.
The new system will be capable of intercepting hypersonic weapons in the glide phase of flight.
The latest milestone comes around three months after the US MDA awarded contract modifications to Raytheon and Northrop Grumman to continue the prototype development.
The modifications award required both the companies to develop and hone the GPI prototype’s concepts.
According to Raytheon, the latest SRR-P milestone builds on the company’s experience in developing ship-launched missile systems as well as its ability to mature hypersonic technologies.
Following the culmination of SRR-P, Raytheon has now moved to the next stage of preliminary design for GPI prototype.
Raytheon Missiles & Defense Strategic Missile Defence president Tay Fitzgerald said: “The Raytheon Missiles & Defense GPI concept employs a low-risk solution that uses proven Standard Missile (SM) technology already deployed on Aegis ships, while advancing critical technologies needed in the hypersonic environment.
“We have a firm understanding of the requirements, and we’re ready to continue GPI development.
“This is a major step toward delivering this capability to the war fighter.”
In November last year, Raytheon, along with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, were selected by the US MDA to develop this GPI system.
