Raytheon Completes Critical Milestone for Mobile X-band Radar System

March 12, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Raytheon, Syndicated Industry News 
Raytheon Completes Critical Milestone for Mobile X-band Radar System
July 9, 2009

TEWKSBURY, Mass., -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) recently completed integration and acceptance testing of an integral element of the mobile and adaptable AN/TPY-2 X-band radar system at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The Prime Power Unit (PPU) is an air- and highway-transportable, trailer-mounted 1.3MW (megawatt) Generator Set, a key component of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system.

"Completing this key milestone in the THAAD radar program moves us one step closer to providing an effective and reliable terminal missile defense capability to protect our country, our warfighters and our allies from ballistic missile threats," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The PPU will undergo extensive user evaluations, leading toward its maturity into the THAAD weapons system for fire unit deployment."

The AN/TPY-2, a transportable X-band radar system, was developed for the THAAD system. It provides a highly reliable common capability enabling both a forward-based and a terminal mode in support of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Raytheon is the prime contractor for the AN/TPY-2, one of the company's affordable "family of X-band radars," providing the warfighter with modular, adaptable and integrated solutions to missile threats. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the THAAD system.

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Successful Test of Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile Validates Missile Upgrades

February 2, 2010 by Jeffrey Bradford · Comment
Filed under: Lockheed Martin, Syndicated Industry News 
Successful Test of Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile Validates Missile Upgrades
2/1/2010 4:17:00 PM

Orlando, FL, February 1st, 2010 -- A Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) underwent a successful Product Upgrade Verification (PUV) flight test on January 12 at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The missile was released from a B-52 aircraft and successfully navigated through a preplanned route before destroying its intended target.

The primary test objectives of this flight were to provide final validation of a new missile control unit, recently upgraded actuator control electronics and a digital engine controller. The upgrades enhance missile performance and eliminate the risk of future component obsolescence.

“This flight test continues our successful efforts to expand missile capability and demonstrate reliability,” said Alan Jackson, JASSM program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Flight validation of JASSM upgraded electronic subassemblies allows us to proceed with JASSM production well into the next decade.”

JASSM is ahead of schedule to meet the new goal of 90 percent reliability by Lot 11. JASSM-Extended Range (ER), the longer range version of JASSM, has a 100 percent success rate. The ER system is 6 for 6 in flight tests.

JASSM continues to be a critical weapon for the U.S. Air Force, with the eighth production lot under contract toward a total objective of 4,900 JASSMs and JASSM-ER. The baseline JASSM is also being produced for foreign military sale. Its ability to be integrated on multiple aircraft has been successfully demonstrated on the B-1, B-2, B-52 and F-16 aircraft. Future platforms include the F-15E, F/A-18 and F-35.

The missile is produced at Lockheed Martin’s award-winning manufacturing facility in Troy, AL. Lockheed Martin has assembled approximately 960 JASSM missiles in Troy since late 1999 for testing and for operational use.

A 2,000-pound class weapon with a penetrator/blast fragmentation warhead, JASSM cruises autonomously in adverse weather, day or night, using a state-of-the-art infrared seeker in addition to the anti-jam GPS to find a specific aimpoint on the target. Its stealthy airframe makes it extremely difficult to defeat.

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Boeing Laser Demonstrator Program Accepts Oshkosh Military Truck, Enters Fabrication Phase — Press Release

Boeing Laser Demonstrator Program Accepts Oshkosh Military Truck, Enters Fabrication Phase

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Jan. 6, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has accepted the Oshkosh Defense military truck that will carry a Boeing-built laser beam control system for the U.S. Army’s High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) program.

Boeing received the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) on Dec. 17 at the Oshkosh facility in Oshkosh, Wis.

“This demonstration program has successfully transitioned from the design phase to the fabrication phase,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit. “This transformational, solid-state laser weapon capability will provide speed-of-light, ultra-precision capability that will dramatically improve warfighters’ ability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.”

The eight-wheel, 500-horsepower HEMTT A4, a widely used military tactical vehicle, will be shipped to Boeing’s facility in Huntsville this spring for integration with the laser’s rugged beam control system (BCS). The program has already begun receiving BCS components from suppliers.

“These hardware deliveries show that the program is making great progress and getting closer to demonstrating its revolutionary capability,” said Blaine Beardsley, Boeing HEL TD program manager.

The BCS will acquire, track and select an aimpoint on a target during the same time frame in which the system also will receive the laser beam from the laser device, reshape and align it, and focus it on the target. The system includes mirrors, high-speed processors and high-speed optical sensors.

HEL TD testing against real targets, but using a low-power surrogate for the high-energy laser, is scheduled for fiscal year 2011 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. HEL TD is a cornerstone of the Army’s high-energy laser program and will support the transition to a full-fledged Army acquisition program.

Boeing is developing laser systems for a variety of U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy warfighter applications. Besides HEL TD, these systems include the Airborne Laser, Free Electron Laser and Tactical Relay Mirror System.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

# # #

Contact:

Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4240
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Strikes Moving Target in Test — Press Release

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Strikes Moving Target in Test

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 13 — The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and the U.S. Air Force on Sept. 19 damaged a moving ground vehicle from the air using the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, completing ATL’s first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a mobile target.

During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque and fired a high-power chemical laser through its beam control system while flying over White Sands Missile Range. The beam control system guided the laser beam’s energy to the unoccupied, remotely controlled target, striking the vehicle and putting a hole in a fender. The test demonstrated the ability to aim and fire a high-energy laser beam at a moving target.

“In this test, a directed energy weapon successfully demonstrated direct attack on a moving target,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit. “ATL has now precisely targeted and engaged both stationary and moving targets, demonstrating the transformational versatility of this speed-of-light, ultra-precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage.”

The test occurred less than three weeks after an Aug. 30 test in which ATL damaged an unoccupied stationary vehicle, marking the aircraft’s first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.

Boeing developed ATL for the Air Force. ATL demonstrations support the development of laser defense systems that will destroy, damage or disable targets on the battlefield and in urban operations with little to no collateral damage.

The Boeing-led ATL industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear, which built the laser turret; HYTEC Inc., which made a variety of the weapon system’s structural elements; and J.B. Henderson, which provides mechanical integration support.

Boeing leads the way in developing and integrating laser systems for a variety of customers, including the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy. Besides ATL, these systems include the Airborne Laser, Free Electron Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator and Tactical Relay Mirror System.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

Contact:

Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-414-6138
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

Laser weapon goes through successful test

September 3, 2009 by admin · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News 

ALBUQUERQUE, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- A potential new laser weapon fired from the air to a ground target went through a successful test over White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Boeing said.

NG’s Viper Strike completes testing

September 2, 2009 by admin · Comment
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News 

HERNDON, Va., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has successfully completed testing of its global positioning system-guided weapons technology at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Defeats Ground Target in Flight Test — Press Release

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Defeats Ground Target in Flight Test

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 1, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 30 defeated a ground target from the air with the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft, demonstrating ATL’s first air-to-ground, high-power laser engagement of a tactically representative target.

During the test, the C-130H aircraft took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its high-power chemical laser through its beam control system while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The beam control system acquired the ground target — an unoccupied stationary vehicle — and guided the laser beam to the target, as directed by ATL’s battle management system. The laser beam’s energy defeated the vehicle.

“This milestone demonstrates that directed energy weapon systems will transform the battlespace and save lives by giving warfighters a speed-of-light, ultra-precision engagement capability that will dramatically reduce collateral damage,” said Greg Hyslop, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. “By demonstrating this capability, the ATL team has earned a distinguished place in the history of weapon system development.”

The test occurred less than three months after a June 13 test in which ATL successfully fired its laser from the air for the first time, hitting a target board on the ground. The ATL team plans additional tests to further demonstrate the system’s military utility. These demonstrations support the development of systems that will conduct missions on the battlefield and in urban operations.

“The bottom line is that ATL works, and works very well,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems’ Directed Energy Systems unit. “ATL’s components — the high-energy chemical laser, beam control system and battle manager — are performing as one integrated weapon system, delivering effective laser beam energy to ground targets.”

The ATL industry team also includes L-3 Communications/Brashear, which built the laser turret; HYTEC Inc., which made a variety of the weapon system’s structural elements; and J.B. Henderson, which provides mechanical integration support.

Boeing leads the way in developing and integrating laser systems for a variety of customers, including the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy. Besides ATL, these systems include the Airborne Laser, Free Electron Laser, High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator and Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

###

Contact:

Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-414-6138
marc.selinger@boeing.com

Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Fires High-Power Laser in Flight – Press Release

Boeing Advanced Tactical Laser Fires High-Power Laser in Flight

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 15, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force on June 13 successfully fired the high-power laser aboard the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) aircraft for the first time in flight. During the test, ATL took off from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and fired its laser while flying over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., successfully hitting a target board located on the ground. ATL, which Boeing is developing for the U.S. Air Force, is a C-130H aircraft
equipped with a chemical laser, a beam control system, sensors and weapon-system consoles.

“This successful test is a major step toward bringing directed energy capability to the warfighter,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems. “We have demonstrated that an airborne system can fire a high-power laser in flight and deliver laser beam energy to a ground target. ATL’s ultra-precision engagement capability will dramatically reduce collateral damage.”

More tests are planned to demonstrate ATL’s military utility. The system is designed to destroy, damage or disable targets with little to no collateral damage. These demonstrations support development of systems that will conduct missions on the battlefield and in urban operations. The Boeing-led ATL industry team includes L-3 Communications/Brashear,
which built the laser turret; HYTEC Inc., which made a variety of the weapon system’s structural elements; and J.B. Henderson, which provides mechanical integration support. Boeing leads the way in developing laser systems for a variety of Air Force, Army and Navy applications. These include the Airborne Laser, the Free Electron Laser, the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator, Laser Avenger, the Re-deployable High Energy Laser System and the Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

# # #

Contact:
Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
703-414-6138

Boeing Laser Avenger Shoots Down Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Tests – Press Release

Boeing Laser Avenger Shoots Down Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Tests
Jan. 26, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully
demonstrated that a laser system mounted on an Avenger combat vehicle
can shoot down a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) like those that
increasingly threaten U.S. troops deployed in war zones.
During tests last month at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Laser
Avenger achieved its principal test objectives by using its advanced
targeting system to acquire and track three small UAVs flying against a
complex background of mountains and desert. The laser system also shot
down one of the UAVs from an operationally relevant range. These tests
mark the first time a combat vehicle has used a laser to shoot down a
UAV.

Representatives of the U.S. Army’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems
project office observed the tests.

“Small UAVs armed with explosives or equipped with surveillance sensors
are a growing threat on the battlefield,” said Gary Fitzmire, vice
president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems. “Laser
Avenger, unlike a conventional weapon, can fire its laser beam without
creating missile exhaust or gun flashes that would reveal its position.
As a result, Laser Avenger can neutralize these UAV threats while
keeping our troops safe.”

The tests follow a 2007 demonstration in which an earlier version of
Laser Avenger neutralized improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and
unexploded ordnance (UXO) on the ground.

“We doubled the laser power; added sophisticated acquisition, tracking
and pointing capability; and simplified and ruggedized the design,” said
Lee Gutheinz, Boeing program director for High-Energy
Laser/Electro-Optical Systems. “Boeing developed and integrated these
upgrades in less than a year, underscoring our ability to rapidly
respond to warfighters’ needs.”

Laser Avenger integrates a directed energy weapon together with the
kinetic weapons on the proven Avenger air defense system developed by
Boeing Combat Systems in Huntsville, Ala. It is a Boeing-funded
initiative to demonstrate that directed energy weapons are maturing and
are relevant to today’s battlefield.

Boeing leads the way in developing laser systems for a variety of U.S.
Air Force and Army warfighter applications. These systems include the
Airborne Laser, the Advanced Tactical Laser, the High Energy Laser
Technology Demonstrator and the Tactical Relay Mirror System.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
is one of the world’s largest space and defense
businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer
solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of
military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense
Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.

Contact Info:
Marc Selinger
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
(703) 414-6138
marc.selinger@boeing.com
Chuck Cadena
Boeing Missile Defense Systems
(703) 872-4503
chuck.cadena@boeing.com

DoD awards contract for engineering services at ranges

Orbital won a contract to provide engineering and analytical services to all three US armed services at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). They are also part of a team supporting efforts at Wallops Range in Virginia which is used a great deal by NASA. See the story here. The contract, called Theoretical Studies and Engineering Services (TSER), will support all developmental activities at WSMR. This range is used to support air and ballistic missile defense tests.

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