TUCSON, Ariz., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy
successfully completed their third technical evaluation flight, designated DT-
7, of the Raytheon-produced Tactical Tomahawk July 9 at the Naval Air Systems
Command sea and land test ranges in Southern California.
"We are extremely pleased with this highly successful first underwater
launch from a U.S. Navy submarine," said Jon Jones, vice president, Raytheon
Missile Systems Strike product line. "We are particularly proud that the honor
of the first submarine firing went to the Navy platform bearing the name of
our city."
Launched from USS Tucson, DT-7 marked the first launch of a Tactical
Tomahawk missile from a U.S. Navy nuclear powered attack submarine. This was
the third of four launches that the U.S. Navy will conduct during its
technical evaluation period.
"Our ship's motto, 'Team Tucson, the Tradition Continues,' is evermore
true as the USS Tucson and our namesake city, Tucson, Ariz., produce a first
for the U.S. Navy and our nation," said Cdr. William Traub, USS Tucson
commanding officer. "The success of the Tactical Tomahawk program is only due
to the dedication and teamwork of all of the men and women involved."
Launched near San Nicholas Island, the missile flew an over water and over
land mission for greater than 800 nautical miles. The flight ended with a
variable dive angle attack against a target at the China Lake Range; the
missile was equipped with an inert warhead. The Tactical Tomahawk met all test
objectives which included integration on a Los Angeles class submarine and
further demonstration of the new Tactical Tomahawk capabilities, such as en
route mission flexibility.
"The success of Tactical Tomahawk in all flight tests to date underscores
the robustness of its design." said Capt. Bob Novak, Tomahawk All-Up Round
program manager, Naval Air Systems Command. "This is a tribute to the
continuing hard work and dedication of the NAVAIR-Raytheon team."
A surface- and submarine-launched, precision strike stand-off weapon,
Tomahawk is the nation's weapon of choice for critical, long-range precision
strike missions against high value, heavily defended targets.
Tactical Tomahawk will incorporate innovative technologies to provide new
operational capabilities while dramatically reducing acquisition and life
cycle costs. Scheduled for fleet introduction in 2004, the Tactical Tomahawk
will cost less than half of a newly built Block III missile and will have the
capability to respond to changing battlefield conditions through the use of
its loiter and mission flex features.
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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