PHOTEX: USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM)

131022-N-NX070-003 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class RJ Stratchko/Released)

131022-N-MW280-047 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chase Hawley/Released)

131022-N-HO612-118 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erik Foster/Released)

131022-N-NX070-004 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class RJ Stratchko/Released)

131022-N-RB564-003 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Prill/Released)

131022-N-RB564-002 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 22, 2013) The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. Bataan and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) are underway conducting routine qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary Prill/Released)

NAVSEA awards Raytheon $406m Aegis contract

NAVSEA awards $406 million contract for Aegis systems.

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Sudbury, Mass., was awarded a $406,024,307 fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee multi-year procurement contract for the production of Aegis Weapon System AN/SPY-1D(V) Radar Transmitter Group and Missile Fire Control System (MFCS) MK 99 equipment, engineering services, and an option for AN/SPY-1D(V) Transmitter Group and select MFCS MK 99 equipment. Work will be performed in Andover, Mass. (78.3 percent), Sudbury, Mass. (19.3 percent), Canada (1 percent), Moorestown, N.J. (0.9 percent), and Norfolk, Va.,(0.5 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2019. Fiscal 2013 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy funding in the amount of $205,532,390 was obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)- only one or limited number of sources and no other suppliers will satisfy the requirements. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-13-C-5115). (Awarded Sept. 27, 2013)

Awarded 27 September, but not notified until 18 October. Thanks, govt shutdown!

USS Decatur (DDG-73) successfully intercepts RIM-161/SM-3 ballistic missile

The Raytheon RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept short- to-intermediate range ballistic missiles as a part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The USS Decatur (DDG-73) is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer built at Bath Iron Works and commissioned into the United States Navy in 1998. The Decatur is home ported at Naval Base San Diego and assigned to Destroyer Squadron Seven (DESRON 7).

The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (formerly the Kwajalein Missile Range) is a missile test range operated by the US military in the Pacific Ocean.

Raytheon’s SM-3, AN/TPY-2 successful in operational ballistic missile defense test

RONALD REAGAN BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE TEST SITE, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Raytheon Company’s (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-3 Block IA guided missile and AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar played integral roles in the success of Flight Test Operational-01, the Missile Defense Agency’s operational test of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System.

During the test, a SM-3 Block IA guided missile fired from the USS Decatur (DDG 73) intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target. An AN/TPY-2 radar, operating in forward-based mode, detected, discriminated and tracked the target throughout the target’s trajectory.

“The SM-3 and AN/TPY-2 are two indispensable elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “This operational test proves our nation has capable, reliable systems deployed today defending the U.S. and its allies against the growing ballistic missile threat.”

Adding to the complexity of the test, a terminal-mode AN/TPY-2 radar also detected, tracked and discriminated the threat. This capability enables additional engagement opportunities, allowing for a “shoot-access-shoot” layered missile defense if necessary.

“As ballistic missiles continue to proliferate and the weapons become more sophisticated, it’s imperative the U.S. and our allies have proven, reliable defensive systems like SM-3 and AN/TPY-2,” said Dan Crowley, president of Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems business. “SM-3 and both modes of the AN/TPY-2 are deployed around the world today, protecting warfighters, civilians and critical infrastructure.”

About AN/TPY-2

AN/TPY-2 is a high resolution, mobile, rapidly deployable X-band radar capable of providing long-range acquisition, precision track, and discrimination of short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The AN/TPY-2 may be deployed globally in either terminal or forward-based mode. In terminal mode, the AN/TPY-2 serves as the search, detect, track, discrimination and fire-control radar for the THAAD weapon system, enabling the THAAD missile to intercept and destroy threats. In forward-based mode, the AN/TPY-2 cues the BMDS by detecting, discriminating and tracking enemy ballistic missiles in the ascent phase of flight.

— AN/TPY-2 has performed flawlessly in both terminal and forward-based mode
in all major tests.

— On Oct. 25, 2012, two AN/TPY-2 radars — one terminal and one
forward-based — participated in FTI-01, the MDA’s largest and most
complex exercise. In a complex raid scenario involving multiple targets,
both radars met or exceeded all test objectives.

— On April 15, 2011, a forward-based AN/TPY-2 extended the battlespace by
providing fire control-quality track data to an Aegis BMD ship, which
fired a Standard Missile-3 using launch on remote capability, which
resulted in a successful intercept of a separating intermediate range
ballistic missile.

— Raytheon has delivered eight AN/TPY-2s to the Missile Defense Agency.
Some of those radars are currently helping defend the U.S. and its allies
in the European, Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibilities.

About Standard Missile-3

The SM-3 destroys incoming ballistic missile threats by colliding with them, a concept sometimes described as “hitting a bullet with a bullet.” The impact is the equivalent of a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph.

— Aegis BMD has demonstrated 26 successful intercepts in 32 at-sea events,
including the successful intercept of a non-functioning satellite during
Operation Burnt Frost in February 2008.

— Aegis BMD 3.6 Weapon System and the SM-3 Block IA were assessed as
operationally suitable and effective by an independent operational test
agency in 2008.

— More than 160 SM-3s have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies.

— All SM-3 guided missiles use Aerojet Rocketdyne-produced MK 72 boosters
and MK 104 dual-thrust rocket motors for first and second stage
propulsion.

— The next-generation SM-3 Block IB is on track for a 2015 deployment at
sea and ashore.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 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. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at http://www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Raytheon Company

Missile Systems

Tucson, Ariz.

SM-3 Media Contact

Heather Uberuaga

+1.520.891.8421

rmspr@raytheon.com

Raytheon Company

Integrated Defense Systems

Tewksbury, Mass.

AN/TPY-2 Media Contact

David Howell

+1.978.319.5104

idspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company

/Web site: http://www.raytheon.com

VIDEO: Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer multi-mission capabilities

PHOTEX: F-35B drops GBU-12 over Atlantic Test Ranges

130801-O-GR159-001 PATUXENT RVIER Md. (Aug. 1, 2013) Test pilot Capt. Michael Kingen flies BF-1, an F-35B Lightning II, during a 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided weapon separation test. BF-1 dropped the GBU-12 over the Atlantic Test Ranges from an internal weapons bay. The F-35B is the variant of the Lightning II designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin by Dane Wiedmann/Released)

New surface-to-air missile for littorial combat ships

It’s all about the littorals!

NAVSEA: LCS Missile Competition Could Start Next Year

The Griffin Missile, Raytheon Photo

The U.S. Navy could start its investigation into its new surface-to-surface missile for its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program as early as next year, Naval Sea System Command officials told USNI News on Monday.Currently, NAVSEA is testing the Raytheon Griffin IIB as part of the Surface Warfare (SuW) mission package, only, “as an interim capability,” according to a statement provided to USNI News.

“Subject to funds availability, detailed work on the solicitation contents could start in FY 2014,” NAVSEA said.

“Since this is planned competitive procurement, additional details will be released in the future, as required by Federal procurement regulations, by the cognizant contracting activity.”

The surface-to-surface missile is major missing component of the SuW package. A joint missile with a 25-mile range under development by the Army and the Navy — NLOS-LS — was deemed too expensive and canceled after more than $1 billion in development funds.

USS Freedom (LCS 1) is underway off the coast of Malaysia on June, 20 2013. US Navy Photo

The Navy selected Griffin in early 2011 as an interim capability. The Griffin is 43-inch missile was developed for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and weighs 33 pound with a 13 pound warhead. The missile is GPS guided and has been thought to have been used by SOCOM from airborne platforms. There is also a ground variant, though the surface-to-surface version only has a range of about 3.5 miles.Last year the missile was successfully tested by the Navy engaging small boat targets, according to the company.

“Right now, this version of the Griffin probably doesn’t ultimately have enough range for this customer so we’re on LCS increment 1 with this Griffin, but what we need to do is, with what we’re calling a Sea Griffin, we need to put a bigger motor on the Griffin and give it some more range,” said Harry Schulte, vice president of air warfare systems for Raytheon’s missile systems business last week in a June, 23 report in Defense News.

Other competitors for the next increment could include the Sea Spear from European firm MBDA, reported Defense News.

http://news.usni.org/2013/07/02/navsea-lcs-missile-competition-could-start-next-year