PERM will provide US Marines with mobile, one-shot accuracy

YUMA PROVING GROUND — Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully test fired four Precision Extended Range Munition (PERM) guided projectiles. Three of the GPS-guided rounds flew to the required range and hit within the required distance of their targets. One round was fired to the minimum range requirement and impacted just a few meters from an off-axis target.

The tests validated the functionality and performance of the Raytheon design. Fired from the U.S. Marine Corps M327 120 mm Rifled Towed Mortar, the four rounds met all test objectives.

“These firings, combined with earlier environmental lab and integration tests, demonstrate PERM’s maturity,” said Dr. Tom Bussing, vice president of Raytheon’s Advanced Missile Systems. “The testing also shows the high level of integration between the munition’s guidance, navigation and control functions.”

PERM is designed to provide U.S. Marines with a lethal, extended range, high probability one-shot capability. The munition is a key capability of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Fire Support System. EFSS is a close support, all weather, quick response indirect fire system.

Raytheon and Israeli Military Industries jointly developed PERM. The two companies are expected to deliver 42 PERM rounds to the U.S. Marine Corps for additional testing later this year.

TUCSON, AZ — Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received a $25.9 million U.S. Navy contract for Tomahawk missile Composite Capsule Launching Systems (C/CLS). Production and delivery of the systems will support submarine-launched Tomahawk Cruise missiles.

With a range of more than 1,000 miles the Tomahawk Block IV missile is a surface and submarine-launched precision strike stand-off weapon. Tomahawk is designed for long-range precision strike missions against high-value and heavily defended targets. Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are working to provide Tomahawk with even greater capability.

“Submarine and surface-launched Tomahawk missiles have been employed in more than 2,000 combat missions worldwide,” said Roy Donelson, Raytheon Tomahawk senior program director. “Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are working together to give this proven missile even greater capability.”

The new launching systems will be integrated into nuclear powered fast attack submarines and nuclear powered guided missile subs. The C/CLS provides for all mechanical and environmental interfaces between the missile and the submarine missile tube. Deliveries will begin in September 2015.

PCAS will dramatically speed close air support to ground troops

TUCSON, Ariz. — Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) began flight testing DARPA’s Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program.  PCAS Phase 3 is an 18-month, $25.5 million effort scheduled to culminate in live-fire demonstrations. The program is designed to speed close air support to soldiers on the battlefield.

“PCAS will help reduce close air support response times from as long as one hour to just six minutes,” said Tom Bussing, Raytheon vice president of Advanced Missile Systems. “By delivering critical information to decision makers more quickly, PCAS will save lives in the battlespace.”

PCAS will enable ground troops, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and combat aircrews to share real-time situational awareness and weapons systems data. With PCAS, soldiers on the battlefield can quickly and positively identify multiple targets simultaneously. JTACs and aircrews will jointly select the best precision-guided weapons for each target while minimizing collateral damage and friendly fire.

Current flight testing will highlight PCAS-air performance on an A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft and connectivity with the JTAC equipped with a PCAS-ground kit.  The key element of PCAS-air is modular smart launcher electronics, which can be easily ported from one platform to another.

Once flight testing is complete, the PCAS system will be available for integration with other aircraft and participation in other demonstrations.  Digital interoperability between platforms and JTACs will allow for increased situational awareness, improved coordination, and decreased timelines for close air support.

Raytheon is the systems integrator for PCAS and leads an industry team comprised of Rockwell Collins, General Electric, BAE Systems and 5-D Systems. Raytheon brings its expertise in overall systems integration, weapons, aircraft integration and unmanned aircraft system ground control stations to PCAS.