Raytheon to carry out revolutionary new test and measurement for SM-3 missile circuit cards
DAHLGREN, Va., 18 Aug 2016.Missile experts at Raytheon Co. will carry out revolutionary new test and measurement procedures for circuit cards of the U.S. Navy Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) under terms of a $18.2 million contract modification announced Wednesday.
Officials of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Dahlgren, Va., are asking experts at the Raytheon Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Ariz., to develop testing for circuit card assemblies and circuit card stacks using the Presidio Gen 2 Block IV/V automated test architecture for the SM-3 Block IIA missile.
The Presidio Gen 2 Block IV/V automated test architecture represents a breakthrough in testing automation for production of Raytheon's SM-3 missile. It replaces 17 test positions and 27 environmental conditioning systems with one automated installation.
Presidio circuit card test and measurement also combines advanced commercial technologies like robotic material handling, multi-plane vibration, universal solid-state test interfaces, and new test executive software, Raytheon officials say.
Related: Raytheon opens Standard Missile factory for final assembly, testing of SM-3, SM-6
Raytheon, Keysight Technologies Inc. in Santa Rosa, Calif. (formerly Agilent), and the U.S. Navy developed the Presidio Gen 2 Block IV/V automated test and measurement system originally for the Raytheon Standard Missile 2 (SM-2).
Presidio technology now is extending to the Raytheon SM-3 missile, and will bring about innovative changes to the testing process for Raytheon's entire missile systems business, company officials say.
SM-3 missiles are part of the armament for Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. These missiles can acquire, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles.
The SM-3 hit-to-kill ballistic missile defense interceptor is designed to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles using an exoatmospheric kill vehicle that crashes into the incoming ballistic missile target during its mid-course phase in space.
The SM-3 can be launched from land sites as well as from specially equipped Navy Aegis destroyers and cruisers. The missile has an enhanced two-color infrared seeker and upgraded steering and propulsion capability that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to direct the missile toward incoming targets.
Related: Boeing joins Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to develop multi-warhead killer missile defense
The latest-generation Standard Missile-3 Block IIA, meanwhile has two distinct new features: larger rocket motors that will enable it to defend broader areas from ballistic missile threats and a larger kinetic warhead than previous versions. This missile will be deployed next year.
The Presidio test system for the SM-3 missile is designed to test new and failed units with one configuration test station, which can eliminate vibration test time by 66 percent and cut overall cycle time from 21 days to less than seven hours, Raytheon officials say.
On this contract Raytheon will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by May 2018. For more information contact Raytheon Missile Systems online at www.raytheon.com, Keysight Technologies at www.keysight.com, or the Missile Defense Agency at www.mda.mil.
Learn more: search the Aerospace & Defense Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
