TUCSON, Ariz., March 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first of
its kind launch, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) fired tube-launched,
optically-tracked, wireless-guided (TOW®) 2A radio frequency (RF)
practice missiles from an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter during a
December exercise.
Raytheon, working with the Naval Air Systems Command, fired two
TOW 2A RF practice missiles at ranges exceeding 2600 meters. The
two tests verified the missile's capability to be fired from a
hovering aircraft and from an aircraft maneuvering to a threat.
Both missiles hit their targets within inches of the
aimpoints.
"Wire-guided TOW missiles have been fired from helicopters for
years," said Michelle Lohmeier, vice
president of Raytheon's Land Warfare Systems. "These shots
demonstrate RF capability to be fired off platforms used with wired
TOWs without modifications."
The TOW 2A RF missile is designed to be compatible with all TOW
launch systems with no changes to the gunner's actions. While TOW
RF is routinely fired from ground platforms, it had not been fired
from an airborne platform until now.
"Airborne TOW has always been an integral part of combined-arms
operations such as coastal defense missions," said Lohmeier. "These
shots demonstrate that TOW 2A RF is fully capable of defeating
modern threat targets and will be a viable asset of a nation's
arsenal for the foreseeable future."
About TOW
The tube-launched, optically-tracked,
wireless-guided (TOW) weapon system, with the multimission TOW 2A,
TOW 2B Aero and TOW Bunker Buster missiles, is the premier
long-range, precision anti-armor, anti-fortification weapon system
used throughout the world today. TOW is in service in more than 40
international armed forces and integrated on more than 15,000
ground, vehicle and helicopter platforms worldwide. Raytheon has
delivered more than 690,000 TOW missiles to U.S. and allied
warfighters. The TOW weapon system will be in service with
the U.S. military beyond 2025.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of
$23 billion and 61,000 employees
worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in
defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a
history of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon provides
state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other
capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command,
control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber
security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is
headquartered in Waltham, Mass.
For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us
on Twitter @raytheon.
Media Contact
John Eagles
+1.502.364.6768
rmspr@raytheon.com
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tow-2a-rf-missiles-successfully-fired-from-helicopter-300055159.html
SOURCE Raytheon Company