TUCSON, Ariz., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy
has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the Rolling
Airframe Missile Block 2 produced by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN).
RAM Block 2 is a significant performance upgrade that features
enhanced kinematics, an evolved radio frequency receiver, and an
improved control system.
"RAM Block 2 provides the accuracy and lethality our sailors
need to combat growing regional threats," said Captain Craig Bowden, Major Program Manager for Rolling
Airframe Missile, U.S. Navy Integrated Warfare Systems 3B program
office. "IOC signals that the U.S. Navy is pacing the threat and
ensuring the safety and security of our sailors and ships so they
can operate wherever required."
By achieving IOC, the U.S. Navy can employ the RAM Block 2
missile onboard deploying ships, significantly enhancing their
self-defense capability against anti-ship missiles. The IOC
declaration follows RAM Block 2's delivery to the U.S. Navy last
July, continuing more than eight years of on-time deliveries and
culminating years of planning and coordinated effort by industry
and the U.S. Navy.
IOC follows extensive maritime testing that began in 2013
demonstrating RAM Block 2's ability to counter the latest
generation of anti-ship cruise missiles. During at-sea
testing, RAM Block 2 missiles successfully defeated supersonic and
subsonic maneuvering targets in scenarios that highlighted the
advanced missile's defensive capabilities.
Last year, the program had a highly successful test and
evaluation run scoring hits on several extremely challenging target
sets, including a two-for-two defeat against a supersonic
maneuvering raid – a first from a shipboard firing.
"RAM has been protecting naval ships for three decades, and the
enhanced Block 2 variant enables vital defense of our warfighters
far into the future," said Rick
Nelson, vice president of Naval Area and Mission Defense for
Raytheon Missile Systems. "The U.S. Navy's declaration of IOC is an
important accomplishment that shows RAM Block 2 is ideally suited
to protect against the full range of threats on a variety of
platforms."
RAM is a cooperative program between the U.S. and German
governments with industry support from Raytheon and RAMSYS of
Germany.
About RAM
RAM is a supersonic, quick reaction,
fire-and-forget missile providing defense against anti-ship cruise
missiles, helicopter and airborne threats, and hostile surface
craft. The missile's autonomous dual-mode, passive radio frequency
and infrared guidance design provide a high-firepower capability
for engaging multiple threats simultaneously. RAM is installed, or
planned for installation, aboard more than 165 ships as an integral
self-defense weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United
Arab Emirates and the United
States.
The RAM Block 2 upgrade includes a four-axis independent control
actuator system and an increase in rocket motor capability,
increasing the missile's effective range and delivering a
significant increase in maneuverability. The improved missile also
incorporates an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital
autopilot and engineering changes in selected infrared seeker
components.
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
Tara
Wood
+1.520.794.7715
rmspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company