Raytheon JSOW C-1 Completes Captive Flight Test Series

(Farnborough, England, July 23, 2010) -- The U.S. Navy completed a series of three captive flight tests on Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Joint Standoff Weapon C-1, putting the program closer to achieving initial operating capability in 2012.

JSOW is a family of low-cost, air-to-ground weapons that employs an integrated GPS- inertial navigation system and terminal imaging infrared seeker, guiding the weapon to the target. JSOW C-1 adds moving maritime target capability and the two-way Strike Common Weapon Datalink (SCWDL) to the combat-proven weapon.

"The Raytheon-U.S. Navy team completed a test series that showed JSOW C-1's seeker can detect moving maritime targets. The tests also demonstrated that JSOW C-1 can communicate via its two-way SCWDL," said Phyllis McEnroe, Raytheon's JSOW program director. "The JSOW platform is a 'truck' with many options that continues to evolve to meet emerging threats. Though not a program of record, we are working on a JSOW extended range variant with an objective range of up to 300 nautical miles (345 statute miles)."

JSOW ER completed its first demonstration flight in October 2009, flying more than 260 nautical miles.

"The warfighter asked for a Link-16 network-enabled standoff weapon that can engage moving maritime targets while maintaining the capability to attack stationary land targets," said Cmdr. Douglas Phelan, the U.S. Navy's JSOW Integrated Product Team leader. "JSOW C-1 will meet this requirement."

Source : Raytheon Corporation (NYSE: RTN) - click here for more information