Raytheon to outfit Navy with defense systems

LOUISVILLE, Ky., 19 May 2012. The U.S. Navy will be upgrading shipboard defense systems. Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN) has been selected to upgrade nine Phalanx close-in weapon systems and manufacture two SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense systems. The agreement also includes the purchase of 20 radar upgrade kits. The contract is valued at $57.8 million. The Phalanx close-in weapon system is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided gun system designed to destroy anti-ship missiles and other close-in air and surface threats. Phalanx automatically carries out functions such as search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking, engagement, and kill assessment. Over 890 Phalanx systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations.

SeaRAM combines attributes of the Phalanx close-in weapon system and the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) guided weapon system. SeaRAM enables the ship to engage multiple high-performance, supersonic and subsonic threats. An 11-missile RAM launcher assembly replaces Phalanx’s 20 mm gun. SeaRAM combines RAM’s accuracy, range and high maneuverability with the Phalanx Block 1B sensors' high resolution search-and-track and quick-response capability. SeaRAM provides larger range than Phalanx for dealing with aerial threats such as aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

SeaRAM is currently used on the USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Coronado (LCS 4), and is planned for deployment with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.