TUCSON, Ariz., July 17, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's
Paveway(TM) IV dual-mode precision guided weapon was successfully dropped
from a United Kingdom Royal Air Force Harrier GR9 in a test over the
Aberporth Range in Wales. The test saw the weapon hit within requirements
from its intended target.
Paveway IV is the next generation of the combat-proven Paveway(TM)
family of precision guided munitions. It is jointly developed by Raytheon
Systems Limited in the U.K. and Raytheon Missile Systems in the United
States.
"We believe Paveway IV will be the weapon of choice for the next 20
years," said Capt. Howard Holdsworth, Royal Navy, Precision Guided Bomb
Integration Project team leader. "Paveway IV offers our pilots greatly
expanded capabilities over the Enhanced Paveway(TM) II we have been using
with great success."
Paveway IV, developed from the foundation of the combat-proven Enhanced
Paveway(TM) II, offers warfighters expanded capabilities. These include the
highly lethal penetrating 500-pound MK82 warhead, height-of-burst sensor,
advanced programmable fuze, in-weapon LAR (launch acceptability region)
generation and advanced guidance algorithm that takes full advantage of the
new warhead while maximizing its fly-out performance.
Paveway IV also features MEMS IMU (microelectro-mechanical space system
inertial measurement unit) that provides required accuracy using a more
compact, less expensive system. Also featured is the RAPToR (Raytheon
Anti-jam Protection Technology Receiver), the most advanced military GPS
technology available. Production deliveries are scheduled to begin in
September.
"This successful trial is the first in a series of risk reduction drops
that are planned to ensure the Paveway IV weapon enters service on time and
to requirement to meet the warfighters' needs," said John Michel, head of
weapons for Raytheon Systems Limited. "Additional drops are planned to
further demonstrate the weapon's expanded capabilities."
"This successful test marks a significant milestone for the
next-generation, highly capable weapon system developed and produced in a
global market environment," said Ricky Freibert, Paveway program director
at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson. "Paveway IV offers the warfighter
expanded capabilities in a proven precision strike weapons family."
Raytheon's legacy of more than 35 years of precision guided bomb
development and manufacturing experience has resulted in more than 250,000
Paveway precision guided weapons delivered to the U.S. and more than 35
allied nations for use on 25 different aircraft.
Paveway was the most widely used precision munition in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. More than 8,700 were dropped.
Raytheon is the sole provider of the Paveway family of precision guided
weapons. Paveway is a trademark of Raytheon Company.
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an
industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information
technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people
worldwide.
Contact: At Farnborough Air Show:
Alan D. Fischer Sara Hammond
520.794.1211 +44 7894 072841
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com/
CONTACT:
Alan D. Fischer of Raytheon Company,
+1-520-794-1211; or Sara Hammond of Raytheon Company, at
Farnborough Air Show, +44 7894 072841
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