Raytheon
Company delivered the first Block 2 variant of its Rolling Airframe
Missile system to the U.S. Navy as part of the company's 2012 Low Rate
Initial Production contract. RAM Block 2 is a significant performance
upgrade featuring enhanced kinematics, an evolved radio frequency receiver,
and an improved control system. |
"As
today's threats continue to evolve, RAM Block 2's enhanced features
give an unfair advantage to naval warfighters across the globe,"
said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile System's Naval
and Area Mission Defense product line. "Along with demonstrating
a long-standing international partnership, the RAM program has a record
of 91 consecutive months of contractual on-time deliveries, and continues
its remarkable success rate of over 90 percent during flight tests."
RAM is a cooperative program between the U.S. and German governments
with industry support from Raytheon and RAMSYS of Germany. The RAM Cooperative
program has been in place for over 30 years and has enjoyed excellent
integration and technology sharing between both countries.
The initial Block 2 delivery milestone was marked by a ceremony at Raytheon
Missile Systems that was attended by U.S. and German naval dignitaries,
and Raytheon leaders and RAM program and team members.
"It is a significant accomplishment for the RAM Program and the
U.S. Navy to accept our first Block 2 Missiles on time and within budget,"
said USN CAPT John Keegan, RAM Major Program Manager. "It is extremely
challenging to successfully transition from a development program to
a production program. Our success with Block 2 is testament to the outstanding
cooperative effort across the entire international team and is indicative
of the technical competence and rigor evident throughout the Program."
About RAM
RAM is a supersonic, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile
providing defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopter and
airborne threats, and hostile surface craft. The missile's autonomous
dual-mode, passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design provide
a high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously.
RAM is installed, or planned for installation, aboard more than 165
ships as an integral self-defense weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany,
Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates
and the United States. |
