ABU DHABI, United Arab
Emirates, Feb. 22, 2015
/PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has begun
development on an extended range variant of the combat-proven
Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM®).
Designed specifically for ground-based air defense, AMRAAM-ER will
enable intercepts at longer range and higher altitudes.
"With AMRAAM-ER, Raytheon is rewriting the book on ground-based
air defense. The new missile will be even faster and more
maneuverable than the current AMRAAM," said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon vice president of Air
Warfare Systems. "By leveraging many existing AMRAAM components,
Raytheon can deliver AMRAAM-ER quickly and affordably with very low
risk."
Raytheon will integrate AMRAAM-ER into the NASAMS launcher.
NASAMS is the latest and most modern Medium Range Air Defense
system. In partnership with KONGSBERG, Raytheon has delivered more
than 70 fire units to seven countries. It is the most commonly used
Short and Medium Range Air Defense System in NATO.
"Combined with the NASAMS launcher, AMRAAM-ER will provide a new
level of protection to customers," said Ralph Acaba, vice president of Integrated Air
and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems
business. "NASAMS is one of the most easily manned, trained, and
maintained systems in the world."
Fielded in Norway for more than
a decade, NASAMS is operationally deployed in the U.S. National
Capital Region, Spain,
Finland, the Netherlands, and an undisclosed country.
It is also in production for Oman
under a contract received last year.
Raytheon plans to flight test AMRAAM-ER before the end of the
year.
About AMRAAM
AMRAAM® is a combat-proven missile that demonstrates
operational flexibility in both air-to-air and surface-launch
scenarios and provides today's military forces with enhanced
operational capability, cost effectiveness and future growth
options/solutions. Procured by 36 countries, the combat-proven
AMRAAM® has been integrated on the F-15, F-16, F/A-18,
F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, Harrier, F-4 and the Joint Strike
Fighter aircraft. It is also the baseline missile for the
NATO-approved National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.
About NASAMS
NASAMS is a highly adaptable medium range solution for any
operational air defense requirement. The system provides the air
defender with a tailorable, state-of-the-art defense system that
can maximize their ability to quickly identify, engage and destroy
current and evolving enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle or
emerging cruise missile threats.
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; command, control,
communications and intelligence systems; 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 Contacts
John B.
Patterson
+1.520.440.2194
Bailey Sargent
+1.978.535.1755
rmspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company