PT. MUGU, Calif., Aug. 28, 2014
/PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Army
achieved the first intercept of a cruise missile by the Accelerated
Improved Intercept Initiative missile. An AI3 missile also
destroyed an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Both intercepts occurred
during the recent Black Dart demonstration – a U.S. military
exercise held July 29 - August
11.
Fired from the Avenger launcher, AI3 missiles intercepted both
targets at low altitude over water and in a high-clutter marine
environment – capabilities made possible by upgrades to the
missile's semi-active seeker and radar. The ability to defeat
UAS and cruise missile threats is the key requirement of the U.S.
Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Block 1.
IFPC is a mobile, ground-based weapon system designed to
acquire, track, engage and defeat UAS, cruise missiles, rockets,
artillery and mortars.
"Raytheon's AI3 missile is breaking new ground with its
destruction of these challenging targets that are real threats to
today's warfighter," said Dr. Thomas R.
Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president.
"We've developed a missile that integrates easily into the Army's
existing systems. It's affordable, the risk is low and we can get
it in the field soon."
Earlier this year, in preparation for the Black Dart event, AI3
missiles destroyed a 240 mm rocket and a UAS at Yuma Proving
Ground, Arizona.
"Black Dart was the ideal venue for us to demonstrate AI3's
expanded capabilities and to showcase the missile as a low-cost,
complimentary interceptor for IFPC Block 1," added Bussing.
About AI3
In 2012-13, Raytheon developed and successfully tested a system,
also called AI3, to counter rockets, artillery and mortars (C-RAM).
The system included the AI3 missile as its centerpiece, plus fire
control radar, command and control node and launcher. In
Sept. 2013, the AI3 system destroyed
22 of 24 threats, including 107mm rocket targets at various
quadrant elevations, as well as mortars, an unmanned aircraft
system and improvised rocket-assisted mortars. Raytheon developed
the AI3 system in just over 18 months to meet a Department of
Defense urgent need, and demonstrated that it also meets IFPC Block
2 requirements for C-RAM.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of
$24
billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a
technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security
and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of
innovation spanning 92 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.
Raytheon Company
Missile Systems
Tucson, Ariz.
Media Contact
John
Patterson
+1.520.794.4559
rmspr@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company