TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company led the Forward
Payloads and Sensors for Submarines (Forward PASS) consortium, a four-member
team representing industry and government, in recent in-water testing that
successfully demonstrated the hydrodynamic stability and hydrostatic
robustness of the Broaching Universal Buoyant Launcher (BUBL). The BUBL
program is poised to provide the means for radically new payload employment on
present day and future submarine platforms.
"The successful BUBL demonstration and test is a true testament to the
value of focus and collaboration," said Richard Buchanan, vice president of
Submarine and Undersea Systems for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The
Forward PASS consortium is a model partnership with the cooperative teaming of
government and industry talents working together to bring the best possible
products to the fleet. We are proud to play such an integral role."
Forward PASS industry participants include Raytheon Integrated Defense
Systems, General Dynamics-Electric Boat and TPI Composites. The Naval Undersea
Warfare Center Newport Division provides critical, complementary support.
The goal of the BUBL concept is "universal" weapon encapsulation, which can
enable any payload to be deployed from any submarine under any operating
conditions. BUBL is also investigating the capability of launching payloads at
greater speeds and depths while providing flexibility in stowage locations
onboard submarine platform hosts. Payloads currently under consideration for
such packaging include a wide range of present and future Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) and missiles.
BUBL was conceptualized by the Forward PASS consortium after participating
in the Submarine Payloads and Sensors study sponsored jointly by the U.S. Navy
and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, focusing on advanced
payloads and sensors for future submarines.
The BUBL program, which is more than 50 percent complete, includes
construction of prototype items for the capsule structure, electronics/sensor
and power subsystems, and culminates in the launch of an Army missile airframe
demonstrating submarine launch feasibility. If the technology demonstration is
successful, BUBL could enter service as early as 2007 depending on the payload
that is selected for its initial introduction.
Based in Tewksbury, Mass., Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems provides
integrated air and missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting systems,
including modeling and simulation capabilities for the U.S. Missile Defense
Agency, and strong global integrated capabilities for Army, Navy, Marine Corp,
and technology customers.
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2002 sales of $16.8 billion, is an
industry leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, space,
information technology, technical services, and business and special mission
aircraft. With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon employs more than
76,000 people worldwide.
Contact:
Steve Brecken
978.858.5246
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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