US Army Selects Raytheon Team to Develop the FCS XM1111 Mid Range Munition

Released on Wednesday, January 02, 2008

 

TUCSON, Ariz., Jan. 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE:

RTN), teamed with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, has been

selected by the U.S. Army to develop the XM 1111 Mid-Range Munition for the

Future Combat Systems' Mounted Combat System.

Valued at $232.3 million, the 63-month contract covers system design

and development.

"This award establishes Raytheon as the leader in the development of

affordable precision-guided projectiles," says Louise Francesconi,

president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "We embrace our role as the primary

provider of precision projectiles for the United States, and we look

forward to working in partnership with the Army, General Dynamics Ordnance

and Tactical Systems and our suppliers as we develop this revolutionary

capability for the Army's current and future forces."

Mid-Range Munition incorporates proven technology using a dual-mode

seeker suite comprising an imaging infrared sensor and a digital

semi-active laser seeker. The dual-mode seeker was developed and

successfully demonstrated during a two-year, Army-managed science and

technology program.

In its proposal, Raytheon chose a multipurpose chemical energy warhead

for the Mid-Range Munition. "For the beyond-line-of-sight mission, we

believe that the chemical energy warhead, with proven lethality against the

primary target of threat armor, is the best solution," said Rodger Elkins,

director of advanced tactical weapons for Raytheon's Advanced Programs

product line. "It provides better effects against the secondary targets of

buildings, fortifications and light armor than a less versatile kinetic

energy penetrator."

Raytheon's aggressive cost control initiatives provide the Army with a

proven, low-risk, affordable product as it enters into the system design

and development phase. Such innovative cost solutions are easily

transferable to Raytheon's other precision-guided projectiles, such as the

company's highly successful, combat-proven Excalibur 155 mm artillery

projectile.

During the past 50 years, Raytheon has delivered more than 1.3 million

precision-guided munitions, and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical

Systems has been involved with the development and production of more than

3 million 120 mm tank cartridges. This vast development and production

experience, coupled with the expertise gained in the development,

production and fielding of Excalibur, ensures the Army will receive the

world's best array of gun- fired, precision-guided weapons.

Work on the Mid-Range Munition will be performed at Raytheon facilities

in Tucson, Ariz.

 

Source: Raytheon Wins $232 Million Army Precision-guided Projectile Development Contract