Raytheon

Menu Dropdown

<< [Back to News Release Archive]

Patriot, SM-2 engage ballistic and cruise missile targets in sophisticated test scenario

Ballistic missile engagements cued by forward-based AN/TPY-2 radar

RONALD REAGAN BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE TEST SITE, Kwajalein Atoll, Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) radars, missiles and integrated systems played key roles in the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Flight Test Integrated-01, the largest combined developmental and operational integrated live fire missile defense exercise ever conducted.

"This is the most sophisticated test of our ballistic missile defense capabilities ever attempted," said Tom Kennedy, Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems president. "Raytheon's radars, missiles and integrated systems are an indispensable part of our nation's missile defense architecture."

During the test, Raytheon's AN/TPY-2 X-band radar detected a medium range ballistic missile target and provided cues to the THAAD weapon, enabling a successful intercept. Raytheon's Patriot system detected, tracked and successfully intercepted a short range ballistic missile target with a PAC-3 interceptor and a low-flying cruise missile target over water. The company's Standard Missile-2 was fired from the USS FITZGERALD and engaged a low-flying cruise missile. While the Aegis combat weapon system tracked a short range ballistic missile threat and launched an SM-3 Block 1A, there was no indication of an intercept; program officials are assessing test data.

About Patriot
Patriot is the world's most capable air and missile defense system, protecting against a full range of advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

  • Patriot is owned and operated by 12 nations around the globe.
  • Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems.
  • Raytheon is the system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.

About AN/TPY-2
Playing a vital role in missile defense, AN/TPY-2 is a mobile X-band phased-array radar. The radar searches, acquires and tracks threat ballistic missiles, and is sophisticated enough to discriminate between threats and non-threats such as decoys. 

  • In forward based mode, AN/TPY-2 detects and tracks an enemy ballistic missile starting at boost (ascent) phase of flight, which is shortly after the missile is launched.
  • In terminal mode, AN/TPY-2 serves as the search, track, discrimination and fire control radar for the THAAD weapon system. Forward-based AN/TPY-2's in Japan, Israel and Turkey are currently enabling the protection of the U.S., deployed troops, and the U.S.'s friends and allies from the growing threat of short-, medium- and long-range missiles.

About the Standard Missile-2
The missile is a primary medium-range area air defense weapon that provides high- and low-altitude intercept capabilities and performance against advanced anti-ship missile threats.

  • The SM-2 is the primary air defense weapon for the U.S. and eight allied navies around the world.

About the Standard Missile-3
The SM-3 destroys incoming ballistic missile threats by colliding with them, a concept sometimes described as "hitting a bullet with a bullet." The impact is the equivalent of a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph.

  • More than 135 SM-3s have been delivered ahead of schedule and under cost.
  • During the test, the U.S. Navy launched an SM-3 Block IA missile, which is deployed today.
  • Raytheon is on track to deliver the next-generation SM-3 Block IB in 2015.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 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. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Patriot Media Contact
Roopa Bhide
781.888.2779

SM-2 Media Contact
Heather Uberuaga
520.891.8421

TPY-2 Media Contact
Mike Nachshen
520-269-5697

rmspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company

Back to Top