YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz., May 6,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army and Raytheon
Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully fired two Excalibur
Ib projectiles from a M109A2/A3 howitzer during recent tests. Using
the M185 cannon and M119A2 propelling charge with Excalibur for the
first time, both rounds guided precisely to their targets more than
20 kilometers away.
The M109A2/A3 is an early variant of the M109-series howitzer
operated by armed forces around the world. Based on the test
results, those forces are now able to use the extended range
precision capability provided by Excalibur Ib.
"With these firings, we have expanded the potential Excalibur Ib
user community and proved to those countries they can add precision
fires to their arsenals," said Mark
Hokeness, Raytheon's Excalibur program director. "Excalibur
provides its users with accurate, first-round effects capability in
any environment and supports forces across the full spectrum of
operations."
About Excalibur
Excalibur is a precision-guided, extended-range projectile that
uses GPS guidance to provide accurate, first-round effects
capability in any environment. By using Excalibur's level of
precision, there is a major reduction in the time, cost and
logistical burden associated with using other artillery munitions.
Excalibur has been fielded by the U.S. Army, Marines and several
international military forces.
- Combat proven: Nearly 770 Excalibur rounds have been
fired in combat with exceptional accuracy and lethality.
- Precise: Excalibur consistently strikes less than two
meters from a precisely-located target.
- Safe: Excalibur's precision avoids collateral damage and
has been employed within 75 meters of supported troops.
- Affordable: With its first round effects, Excalibur
reduces total mission cost and time and the user's logistics
burden.
- Growing: Raytheon has demonstrated a dual-mode
GPS/semi-active laser seeker Excalibur variant to compensate for
target location error, maintain precision in GPS denied or degraded
environments, and enable engagement of relocated or moving
targets.
- Entering New Markets: With Excalibur N5, navies will be
able to deliver extended range, precision naval surface fires from
existing 5-inch/127 mm guns.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23
billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and
innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning
93 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 cyber security and a broad range of mission
support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit
us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on
Twitter @raytheon.
Media Contact
John
Eagles
+1.502.364.6768
rmspr@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company