Raytheon contract US. Army to produce latest version TOW radio-controlled anti-tank missile 2411134.

Defence & Security Industry News - Raytheon

Officials of the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal (Missile), Ala., on Thursday awarded a $57.8 million contract to Raytheon to produce the tube-launched, optically-tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) -- better-known as the TOW missile.

The multimission TOW 2A, TOW 2B, TOW 2B aero, and TOW bunker-buster missile is the one of the primary precision anti-armor, anti-fortification, and anti-amphibious landing weapons used throughout the world today, Raytheon officials say.

TOW missiles can be fired from all TOW launchers, including the Improved Target Acquisition Systems (ITAS), Stryker anti-tank guided missile vehicle (modified ITAS), and Bradley Fighting Vehicles (Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem).

TOW launchers can be mounted to a wide variety of vehicles, including the Humvee, and also can be placed in improvised ground fortifications for front-line infantry use. Versions of the TOW missile also can be fired from Light Armored Vehicle–Anti-tank and U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter.

If the TOW weapon system remains in service with the U.S. military beyond 2050 as military officials plan today, it will have remained in the Pentagon's arsenal for more than 80 years.

TOW is in service in more than 40 international armed forces and integrated on more than 15,000 ground versions, vehicle- and helicopter-mounted versions worldwide, Raytheon officials say.