New AMRAAM Variant Destroys Target During Recent Test

[tigershark]

New AMRAAM Variant Destroys Target During Recent Test

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., March 27, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- A
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air
Missile successfully destroyed its target Feb. 13 in a test engagement of
the newest variant of the combat-proven missile.

    The AIM-120D AMRAAM was fired by a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
fighter aircraft from the Navy's VX-31 squadron against a QF-4 target
drone. The missile guided to a direct hit, destroying the drone and meeting
all primary test objectives.

    "By putting the AIM-120 through these rigorous tests, the U.S.
government and Raytheon are ensuring the warfighter receives a state-of-the
art weapon system unparalleled in performance and reliability," said Brock
McCaman, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air-to-Air product
line.

    The AMRAAM missile has been developed through the combined efforts of
the U.S. Air Force's Air Armament Center, the U.S. Navy, and Raytheon. The
AIM- 120D is currently in the system design and development phase.

    "The AIM-120D builds on the combat proven AMRAAM by adding an enhanced
electronic protection suite, two-way data link, and GPS-aided navigation,"
said Judy Stokley, U.S. Air Force deputy program executive officer for
Weapons. "When the missile reaches initial operating capability, our
warfighters will have a beyond visual range missile with unparalleled
capability in our quest for air dominance."

    Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology
leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning more
than 85 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 a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in
Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

Link
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=149999&TICK=RTN&STORY=/www/story/03-27-2008/0004781180&EDATE=Mar+27,+2008