TEWKSBURY, Mass., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The U. S. Navy has officially
designated Raytheon's Advanced Vertical Launching System as the "MK 57
Vertical Launching System" (MK 57 VLS).
The MK 57 launcher is being designed for DD(X) -- the next-generation
destroyer now being developed by the DD(X) National Team. Raytheon Integrated
Defense Systems serves as the ship electronics and weapons systems integrator
for DD(X), and the MK 57 development is led by Raytheon in partnership with
United Defense, L.P. Construction of the first DD(X) ship is expected to
begin in 2005. Northrop Grumman is system prime for DD(X).
"We are proud to be in the forefront of developing new naval systems for
DD(X) that will significantly improve ship firepower and survivability," said
Jack Cronin, Raytheon vice president for the DD(X) program. "In addition, the
MK 57 VLS will reduce costs by lowering manning requirements and facilitate
the Navy's open architecture vision for ship electronic systems."
The MK 57 will be able to fire all of the missiles currently in the U.S.
Navy inventory and projected to be in inventory for the foreseeable future.
The MK 57 is scaled to accept the heavier missiles that could potentially be
used in the future for ballistic missile defense, as well as lighter missiles
such as the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). MK 57 is also expected to be
incorporated into future U.S. and foreign navy ship designs.
Based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, Integrated Defense Systems is
Raytheon's leader in mission systems integration. With a strong international
and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the
U.S. Armed Forces, Integrated Defense Systems provides integrated air and
missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting solutions. 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.
Note to Editors: Raytheon announced on Aug. 22, 2003 that Jack Cronin has
been appointed Managing Director, Raytheon Systems Limited, Raytheon's United
Kingdom subsidiary.
Contact:
Chuck Larrabee
978.858.4259
SOURCE Raytheon Company
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Chuck Larrabee of Raytheon Company,
+1-978-858-4259
|
