TUCSON, Ariz., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon's Paveway Laser Guided
Bombs made up nearly half of all air-to-ground precision guided munitions
(PGMs) used by coalition forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to a
U.S. Central Air Forces Command report. Paveway still remains the 'weapon of
choice.'
During Operation Desert Storm, where the vast majority of weapons were
unguided, more than half of all PGMs that were used were Paveways. In
Operation Iraqi Freedom, the ratio of guided- to unguided munitions reversed
with PGMs representing the majority of air-to-ground weapons used. Of the
PGMs expended in Iraq, Paveway LGBs again remained dominant as the most used
ordnance.
"We're very proud of the skill displayed by coalition pilots and the part
Raytheon's weapons like Paveway played in their success," said Jon Jones, vice
president, Raytheon Strike weapons product line. "In addition to the standard
laser-guided Paveway II and III variants, Operation Iraqi Freedom saw the
successful initial combat use of two new enhanced, all-weather dual mode
versions of Paveway: the Enhanced Paveway II in-service with the Royal Air
Force on Tornado and Harrier aircraft and the Enhanced Paveway III operated by
U.S. Air Force F-117 stealth fighters."
"We have been increasing our Paveway II production run-rate to meet
customer demand," said Donna Ellington, director of Raytheon's Paveway
programs, Tucson, Ariz. "Earlier this year we won the U.S. Air Force/Navy
competition by being awarded the majority of the contract for Paveway II
production. The increased production rates and our consolidated missile
operations in Tucson have kept our Paveway II the lowest cost PGM in the
world."
A Paveway LGB system features an onboard guidance system that detects and
guides the unit to a target illuminated by an external laser source. The
guidance electronics samples the reflected laser energy from the target and
corrects its trajectory as it glides, terminating at the target. The rear
wing assembly provides aerodynamic stability during flight.
Since its inception in 1968, the Paveway series of Laser Guided Bombs has
revolutionized tactical air-to-ground warfare. These semi-active laser guided
munitions not only drastically reduce the numbers required to destroy a
target, but also feature accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness
previously unattainable with conventional weapons. The Enhanced Paveway
versions add GPS guidance to the already successful laser guidance resulting
in a 'best of both worlds' weapon; GPS for all-weather and laser for pin-point
accuracy and targets of opportunity.
The Paveway II LGB continues to be the world's premiere air-to-ground
weapon system. With more than 140,000 built to date, Paveway is deployed by
most North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member nations and by countries
around the world. A total of 32 nations worldwide depend on Paveway II for
accurate, reliable and cost-effective target destruction. European nations
accounted for 15 percent of the Paveway II production built since 1976.
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:
Jennifer Allen
520.794.4182
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Jennifer Allen of Raytheon Company,
+1-520-794-4182
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