Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector has successfully completed the first supersonic free flight of its Miniature Air-Launched Interceptor (MALI) at Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, Calif. All test objectives were met.
The Nov. 26 flight achieved a major milestone toward completing Northrop Grumman's advanced technology demonstration program for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. MALI is being developed to demonstrate the ability to intercept incoming cruise missiles in air-to-air engagements.
The vehicle was launched from an F-4 fighter at an altitude of 20,000 feet MSL. Following launch, it flew for 11.5 minutes in a racetrack pattern through nine waypoints. The vehicle reached air speeds of up to Mach 1.1, achieving the primary objective of supersonic flight.
The test also achieved the following objectives:
