Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV)

An Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) is a sophisticated missile component designed to intercept and destroy incoming enemy ballistic missiles outside the Earth's atmosphere. It is deployed as part of a missile defense system, such as the U.S. Ground-Based Midcourse Defense, traveling at high speeds to collide with and neutralize threats before they reach their target. The EKV uses advanced sensors, radar, and onboard guidance to detect, track, and precisely target their adversaries during the midcourse phase of missile flight, providing a critical layer of defense against nuclear or conventional missile attacks.