Earlier this week, the Missile Defence Agency, released a press information notice (PDF) that the preliminary test for its Multiple Kill Vehicle-L defence drone was successful.

The preliminary test of the MKV-L was to ascertain its ability to maneuver in a hover state while tracking a potentially hostile target. The MDA released an accompanying video of the demonstration for public viewing and can be seen here (WMV). During the test, the MKV-L was shown to lift off under its own propulsion, while remaining stationary in the air using it’s on board retro-rockets; the potential of this drone is nothing short of science-fiction. Upon watching the video, one can’t help but be reminded of post-apocalyptic killing machines seen in films such as The Terminator and The Matrix. According to the MDA, the drone is designed to intercept an incoming ballistic missile, and deploy its “cargo of small kill vehicles” using data from the Ballistic Missile Defense System to aid in its tracking.

With its successful test of the MKV-L, the MDA has demonstrated that it is possible to have an interceptor drone capable of advanced maneuverability and the ability to track incoming ICBMs equipped with multiple warheads or countermeasures. The MKV-L is being developed by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company and is designed to be capable of hovering and tracking a target during flight while transmitting video and flight telemetry back to the control station. A parallel development team from Raytheon Company is also developing its own version called the MKV-R in a “dual-path basis.”

Missile Defence is a U.S. government agency under the umbrella of the Department of Defence. They are the successor to the Strategic Defence Initiative, originally announced by President Regan as the “Star Wars” program. Its primary goal is “To develop and field an integrated, layered, ballistic missile defense system to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends against all ranges of enemy ballistic missiles in all phases of flight.”