TUCSON, Ariz., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy
successfully completed their fourth and final technical evaluation flight, the
first submarine test with a live warhead, of the Raytheon-produced Tactical
Tomahawk July 20 at the Naval Air Systems Command sea and land test ranges in
Southern California. Raytheon's Combat Control System Mk 2 (CCS MK2), the
world's most advanced submarine combat system, provided the tactical control,
weapons control and launch capabilities for the onboard launch.
"Our eight for eight record of exceptional performance in flight tests to
date is a credit to the thoroughness, dedication, and excellent cooperation of
our joint Navy/Raytheon Tomahawk team and underscores the effectiveness of our
systems engineering development methodology in achieving first time
successes," said John Gilray, director, Tomahawk programs, Raytheon Missile
Systems Strike product line.
Launched from USS Tucson (SSN 770), the test, designated DT-6, marked the
first launch of a Tactical Tomahawk missile with a live warhead from a U.S.
Navy submarine. This was also the final of four launches that the Navy will
conduct during its technical evaluation period. The Navy now moves to its
final evaluation phase, the operational evaluation phase, which will involve a
total of four launches, two from a surface combatant and two from a nuclear
powered attack submarine.
"The USS Tucson and the U.S. submarine force have demonstrated significant
operational improvement with the integration of tactical capabilities,
including Raytheon's Tactical Tomahawk missile, CCS MK2, and High Data Rate
Antenna," said Rick Buchanan, vice president, Integrated Undersea Systems at
Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems. "By leveraging the breadth of talent
across its various businesses, Raytheon's "One Company" culture provides
complete mission integration solutions better, faster and more affordably."
Launched north of San Nicholas Island, the missile flew for more than one
hour and thirty minutes and traveled approximately 720 nautical miles. The
flight ended with warhead detonation against a target on San Clemente Island.
The Tactical Tomahawk met all test objectives and further demonstrated the
tactical features of this revolutionary weapon system.
"This successful flight closes out the most successful developmental test
phase (TECHEVAL) in the Tomahawk Program's 32-year history. Our success is a
direct reflection of the superb team that the Navy and Raytheon have put
together to provide the war fighter with a truly transformational weapons
system," said Capt. Bob Novak, Tomahawk All-Up Round program manager. "We are
on track to proceed to the operational testing phase of Tactical Tomahawk
starting later in the fall. Our aggressive schedule will ensure that the
weapon has completed testing to meet the needs of the operational Navy in the
Spring of 2004."
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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