Northrop Grumman Advances Missile Defense Testing with Launch of Digitally Redesigned ICBM Target Vehicle

Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully completed the first launch of its redesigned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) target vehicle, marking a major milestone in advancing U.S. missile defense flight testing capabilities. The successful maiden flight demonstrated the system’s enhanced performance, flexibility, and readiness to support future missile defense missions.

The newly redesigned ICBM target vehicle incorporates a decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBM second-stage motor, supplied through the U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP). During the test event, the target vehicle met all performance objectives, validating its upgraded design and confirming its ability to support long-term missile defense testing requirements.

Digital Engineering Drives Safer, Faster, Smarter Operations

A defining feature of the redesigned ICBM target vehicle is Northrop Grumman’s use of an integrated digital ecosystem that transformed every phase of development—from design and manufacturing to testing and launch operations. These digital tools enhanced operational safety, improved end-to-end test capability, and resulted in a 25 percent reduction in field execution time during Pathfinder operations leading up to the inaugural launch.

At the core of this approach was a digital twin of the target vehicle, providing a high-fidelity virtual representation synchronized with the physical system. This digital model streamlined manufacturing, testing, and integration processes, allowing engineers to validate performance and resolve issues well before physical assembly.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Enhance Integration Efficiency

Northrop Grumman also employed virtual reality (VR) pathfinders, which simulated factory integration and vehicle stacking operations prior to flight. These immersive digital rehearsals enabled teams to predict challenges, optimize workflows, and eliminate potential risks before they appeared in real-world operations—saving time, resources, and cost.

In addition, augmented reality (AR) tools were applied during interstage integration, significantly reducing mechanical assembly time and improving precision. Together, these digital technologies delivered measurable efficiency gains while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Supporting Missile Defense Testing Nationwide

ICBM target vehicles play a critical role in testing the effectiveness of U.S. missile defense systems, including the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered 27 target vehicles and supported 12 successful launches since 2011, underscoring its leadership in threat-representative missile targets.

The redesigned target vehicle features a repurposed Peacekeeper SR119 solid rocket motor as its first stage, providing increased range, higher apogee, and greater payload capacity. The system is compatible with advanced front-end technologies that can simulate sophisticated, long-range ballistic missile threats.

Cost-Effective Innovation Through Repurposed Technologies

As a leading provider of missile defense target vehicles, Northrop Grumman emphasizes cost-effective innovation by repurposing decommissioned rocket motors and leveraging a portfolio of common avionics and adaptable kits. This approach enables rapid configuration of targets tailored to customer-defined threat scenarios while reducing overall program costs.

Defining What’s Possible

Northrop Grumman is a global leader in aerospace and defense technology, delivering pioneering solutions that help customers connect and protect the world while pushing the boundaries of exploration. Guided by a shared mission to solve the toughest challenges, the company’s workforce continues to define what is possible—every day