By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
The US Navy has awarded its largest order in more than two decades for RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) guided missile launching systems.
Raytheon won the $74 million contract for the system that defends against a number of maritime threats, including drones, anti-ship missiles, aircraft, helicopters and fast surface ships.
“"This contract marks the largest single order of U.S. RAM launchers in over two decades and will ensure our naval assets remain well-protected against anti-ship threats," said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. "Our continued investment in modernizing production capacity enables us to meet the growing global demand for the world's most modern short range ship self-defense weapon system."
Most of the work will be done at Raytheon’s facility in Louisville, Kentucky and will be completed by 2028. Currently, the RAM system is deployed on more than 165 warships from 11 countries ranging from aircraft carriers to 500-ton fast attack craft. Several other US Navy ship classes also are being equipped with the weapon, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The US and Germany reached an agreement on building the RAM almost a half-century ago. Earlier year, Raytheon and its German partner, RAM-Systems GmbH, delivered its 250th RAM MK 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) to the US Navy. It’s being installed on the USS Pittsburgh, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.
In addition, RAM missiles also can be launched from the SeaRAM MK15 Mod 32. The new version, the RAM Block 2, is said to be an improvement when it comes to defend against faster and more sophisticated threats.
Raytheon describes RAM as a “supersonic, lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon.” Using passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design allows RAM to engage multiple threats at the same time.
The company has been on a roll this year. Raytheon has doubled its production for the GMLS, and in June it won a $1.1 billion contract from the US to produce advanced missiles. It will build from 2,500 of the AIM-9X Block II missiles every year, up from 1,400 a year.
The AIM-9X is the latest version of the sidewinder air-to-air missile that first entered service in 1956. The Navy calls it a launch and leave, air combat munition that uses passive infrared energy to acquire and track enemy air targets. More than 40 nations use the AIM-9X and the Pentagon calls it one of the oldest, least expensive and most successful missiles in the US weapons inventory.
Jim Morris is Vice President of News for Warrior. Morris previously worked as an executive at Bloomberg TV and ABC News.