TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 26, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Proving accuracy and
lethality, the Raytheon Missile Systems-Bofors' Excalibur team fired a global
positioning system (GPS)-guided 155mm artillery projectile, successfully
engaging a representative target with devastating effects.
"The end-to-end test of the Excalibur system demonstrates that we have a
weapon system ready for fielding," said Raytheon's Excalibur program director
John Halvey.
"The Excalibur team has made a tremendous step forward toward meeting the
objective of fielding by March 2006," said Lt. Col. Bill Cole, the U.S. Army's
product manager for Excalibur at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. "Excalibur has proven
at the system level that it can meet its precision and lethality objectives."
The program is a cooperative effort between the United States and Sweden.
Currently the Excalibur team is responding to an urgent request from the
warfighter to accelerate Excalibur fielding because of the projectile's better
than 10-meter accuracy which is unavailable from any other artillery
projectile. Soldiers and Marines will use Excalibur to reduce collateral
damage and increase their survivability while efficiently accomplishing the
mission.
The Excalibur projectile was fired from the Army's 155mm Paladin howitzer
during the Sept. 15 test at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The projectile was
successfully set with an enhanced portable inductive artillery fuze setter
(EPIAFS). The U.S. Army has adapted EPIAFS into a standalone fuze setter
specifically for the urgent fielding requirement. The projectile's fuze was
set to function above the target, resulting in an air burst which successfully
disabled the light vehicles and produced lethal effects on the simulated
personnel.
This test was preceded by Excalibur tests conducted on Sept. 1, when the
Excalibur program achieved another success, firing two temperature conditioned
projectiles from a Paladin howitzer using MACS-4 (modular artillery charge
system) charges. Both rounds deployed their canards, acquired the GPS signal
(the first live-fired rounds to utilize Direct Y GPS) and completed their pre-
programmed navigational maneuvers.
This series of successful tests is paving the way for Raytheon to deliver
this much needed capability to soldiers and Marines within the next six
months. Excalibur will offer greater lethality, increased range and lower
collateral damage, while greatly reducing the logistical burden for deployed
ground forces.
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2004 sales of $20.2 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:
Sara Hammond
520.794.7810
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Sara Hammond of Raytheon Company,
+1-520-794-7810
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