A team of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Space & Missile Defense Systems business and Corvid Technologies has received a single-award $223m contract to supply sub-orbital flight vehicles to the US Navy.

The five-year contract requires the team to provide system engineering, vehicle design, manufacturing, integration, and launch support services for sub-orbital flight vehicles.

The navy intends to use these vehicles as ballistic missile defence system (BMDS) test targets.

Under the terms, Kratos and Corvid will also develop and test prototype weapon systems.

Kratos Defense & Rocket Support Services division president Dave Carter said: “Kratos is excited to work collaboratively with the Corvid lead team to provide low-cost, sub-orbital launch vehicle solutions to the US Navy.



“Our industry team will leverage its extensive experience from the ARAVs programme to provide sub-orbital rocket systems to meet the requirements of our long-time navy customer.”

“Our highly knowledgeable industry team is prepared to leverage its extensive experience from the aegis readiness assessment vehicles (ARAVs) programme to provide sub-orbital rocket systems to meet the requirements of our long-time navy customer.

“Kratos is focused on providing responsive, affordable, and reliable sub-orbital vehicle solutions to meet emerging advanced target and hypersonic system needs.”

The sub-orbital flight vehicles are exo-atmospheric rocket-based vehicles that can deliver payloads and test articles into a flight regime of interest for systems being assessed.

They will be used by the US Navy, other government agencies and Japan under the foreign military sales programme.

The team will perform the majority of the contract work at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The remaining work will be carried out in locations that include Mooresville in North Carolina, Las Cruces in New Mexico, and Huntsville, Alabama.

Completion of the contract is expected by February 2024.