Raytheon to develop pulsed power system for U.S. Navy

TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 31, 2012. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $10 million contract from Naval Sea Systems Command to develop a pulsed power system that will enable projectiles to reach large distances without the use of an explosive charge or rocket motor.

The contract for the preliminary design of a Pulse Forming Network (PFN) is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Navy to develop a multimission weapon system for use on naval warships to defend and attack with pinpoint accuracy.

Under the contract, Raytheon will provide the research and development of an Integrated Power Systems power load module that may be used for PFNs to power future lasers, railguns or radars.

The PFN is a large power system providing the electromagnetic energy for the railgun projectile, which will travel up to 220 miles in less than six minutes and exit the atmosphere before hitting its target at a velocity of 5,000 feet per second.