TUCSON, Ariz., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 produced by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). RAM Block 2 is a significant performance upgrade that features enhanced kinematics, an evolved radio frequency receiver, and an improved control system.

"RAM Block 2 provides the accuracy and lethality our sailors need to combat growing regional threats," said Captain Craig Bowden, Major Program Manager for Rolling Airframe Missile, U.S. Navy Integrated Warfare Systems 3B program office. "IOC signals that the U.S. Navy is pacing the threat and ensuring the safety and security of our sailors and ships so they can operate wherever required."

By achieving IOC, the U.S. Navy can employ the RAM Block 2 missile onboard deploying ships, significantly enhancing their self-defense capability against anti-ship missiles.  The IOC declaration follows RAM Block 2's delivery to the U.S. Navy last July, continuing more than eight years of on-time deliveries and culminating years of planning and coordinated effort by industry and the U.S. Navy. 

IOC follows extensive maritime testing that began in 2013 demonstrating RAM Block 2's ability to counter the latest generation of anti-ship cruise missiles.  During at-sea testing, RAM Block 2 missiles successfully defeated supersonic and subsonic maneuvering targets in scenarios that highlighted the advanced missile's defensive capabilities. 

Last year, the program had a highly successful test and evaluation run scoring hits on several extremely challenging target sets, including a two-for-two defeat against a supersonic maneuvering raid – a first from a shipboard firing. 

"RAM has been protecting naval ships for three decades, and the enhanced Block 2 variant enables vital defense of our warfighters far into the future," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Naval Area and Mission Defense for Raytheon Missile Systems. "The U.S. Navy's declaration of IOC is an important accomplishment that shows RAM Block 2 is ideally suited to protect against the full range of threats on a variety of platforms."

RAM is a cooperative program between the U.S. and German governments with industry support from Raytheon and RAMSYS of Germany.

About RAM
RAM is a supersonic, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile providing defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopter and airborne threats, and hostile surface craft. The missile's autonomous dual-mode, passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design provide a high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously. RAM is installed, or planned for installation, aboard more than 165 ships as an integral self-defense weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The RAM Block 2 upgrade includes a four-axis independent control actuator system and an increase in rocket motor capability, increasing the missile's effective range and delivering a significant increase in maneuverability. The improved missile also incorporates an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital autopilot and engineering changes in selected infrared seeker components.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 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 cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Media Contact
Tara Wood
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rmspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company