Employment demonstrates system maturity
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Oct. 15, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon
Company's (NYSE: RTN) AIM-120C7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile
entered the U.S. Navy's Weapon System User Program. During a landmark
mission, two U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike-fighter aircraft fired
two Raytheon-built air-to-air missiles -- an AIM-120C7 and an AIM-9X.
This was the first time the AIM-120C7 and AIM-9X have been launched by
a fleet-assigned operational Super Hornet and the first time the U.S. Navy
employed both missiles during the same mission.
"Firing the AIM-9X during the same tactical mission as the AIM-120C7
proves that our warfighters will be able to maintain their critical
advantage in both the beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range fight,"
said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's Air-to-Air Missile program
manager.
The WSUP firings were a joint effort with the Air Force's Weapon System
Evaluation Program and proved the AIM-120C7 can operate in a joint
environment. The WSUP firing also demonstrated the maturity of the
AIM-120C7.
Both Super Hornet pilots were "very impressed with the new capabilities
the AIM-120C7 and AIM-9X," said Lt. Col Terry Scott, mission commander and
commander of the U.S. Air Force's 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron.
The missiles were fired by aircraft assigned to the U.S. Navy's VFA-143
squadron and were launched against a BQM-167A target drone during a joint
mission with U.S. Air Force F-15Cs from Eglin Air Force Base's 60th Fighter
Squadron. All missiles guided within lethal range of the target and were
assessed as 100 percent successful.
"Raytheon makes a commitment to the warfighter that every missile that
leaves the factory will work as advertised," said Harry Schulte, vice
president of Raytheon Missile System's Air Warfare Systems' product line.
"We're pleased the warfighter demonstrated the missiles' reliability and
capability in a realistic combat training environment."
Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86
years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and
command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a
broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham,
Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.
Note to Editors:
The AIM-9X is a launch-and-leave air combat missile that uses passive
infrared energy for acquisition and tracking. It can be employed in the
near beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range arenas. The weapon has
extremely high off-boresight capability, which gives a pilot first-shot,
first-kill dominance. It provides enhanced acquisition ranges in blue sky
and clutter.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM family of missiles has been in production for more
than 20 years and is operational with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and
U.S. Marine Corps, as well as with 33 international customers. In excess of
16,000 AMRAAMs have been produced, and the missile is responsible for nine
successful combat intercepts.
Contact:
Mike Nachshen
520.794.4088
520.269.5697 (mobile)
Michael_nachshen@raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Mike Nachshen of Raytheon Company,
+1-520-794-4088, mobile, +1-520-269-5697,
Michael_nachshen@raytheon.com
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