TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first
time, the U.S. Navy successfully fired a tactical missile from a
SeaRAM launcher on an Independence variant littoral combat ship.
The missile was launched Aug. 14
during a live-fire exercise at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division sea range off the coast of California. U.S.S. Coronado (LCS 4) fired a Rolling Airframe
Missile from a SeaRAM® anti-ship defense system, both produced by
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN).
During the test, the SeaRAM detected, tracked and engaged an
inbound threat target, and fired a RAM Block 1A that successfully
intercepted the target.
"This test success marks a major milestone toward full operation
and employment of the SeaRAM system on U.S. Navy ships," said
Rick Nelson, vice president of Naval
Area and Mission Defense product line at Raytheon Missile Systems.
"SeaRAM demonstrated that it is a vital weapon for defending
navies against anti-ship cruise missiles, and provides warfighters
with a capability found nowhere else."
The exercise also was designed to provide information to reduce
risk in future combat and certification exercises for the LCS.
About Close-in Defense Solutions
- Raytheon's Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar
and 20mm gun system that acquires, tracks and destroys enemy
threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems.
- Intended to enlarge Phalanx's keep-out range against evolving
anti-ship missiles, rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and other
threats, SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defense Systems use advanced
Phalanx Block 1B sensors and replaces the gun with an 11-round
Rolling Airframe Missile guide.
- SeaRAM is aboard the Independence variant of the U.S. Navy's
littoral combat ships.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23
billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and
innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government
and cybersecurity 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 cybersecurity 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