Raytheon Delivers First Excalibur Production Rounds to the U.S. Army

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Raytheon Delivers First Excalibur Production Rounds to the U.S. Army
    TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 9, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- The Raytheon Missile
Systems and BAE Systems Bofors' Excalibur team delivered the first
production Excalibur global positioning system-guided 155 mm artillery
rounds to the U.S. Army Sept. 19, paving the way for the next series of
testing required to field the weapon in theater early next year.
    Final assembly of the projectiles occurred at the McAlester Army
Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Okla.
    "These production rounds put us closer to providing our soldiers with a
cannon-launched, precision projectile to meet the needs of the rapidly
evolving operational environment," said Raymond Sicignano, U.S. Army deputy
product manager for Excalibur. "Excalibur's accuracy and lethality will
bring the howitzer into the 21st century to provide the precision and
responsiveness required for operations in heavily populated areas."
    The delivery of these Excalibur rounds marks the transition of
development testing to production testing and user verification. Most
remaining tests are in the hands of soldiers who will fire the projectiles
in simulated tactical environments with their assigned equipment. Following
the successful completion of acceptance testing and limited user testing,
the Army will determine if the rounds are ready for deployment in ongoing
operations worldwide.
    "Delivery of production Excalibur rounds to the U.S. Army is a
significant step forward in the fielding of Excalibur," said Jim Riley,
vice president of the Raytheon Land Combat product line. "The world's first
GPS-guided artillery round is now in the hands of our soldiers for the kind
of testing that only they can do. They will tell us if it is ready for
combat."
    These projectiles are the initial deliveries from the fiscal year 2005
contract. Deliveries from the fiscal year 2006 contract will begin in March
2007.
    The Excalibur program currently is responding to an urgent request from
the warfighter to accelerate fielding because of the projectile's better
than 10-meter (33 feet) accuracy not available from any other artillery
projectile. Because of its accuracy and increased effectiveness, Excalibur
reduces the logistical burden for deployed ground forces. It also provides
lower collateral damage through its concentrated fragmentation pattern,
increased precision and near-vertical descent. Excalibur capability
provides an essential tool for our warfighters operating in urban and
complex terrain.
    Excalibur produces a wide range of effects in all terrains at extended
ranges and in all weather conditions. With 155 mm howitzers as part of the
standard organization in current operations, Excalibur's precision effects
are readily available to small-unit maneuver elements.
    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:
    Everett Tackett, APR
    520.794.9494
SOURCE Raytheon Company
http://www.raytheon.com/
CONTACT:
Everett Tackett of APR for Raytheon,
+1-520-794-9494