Raytheon Company and the U.S. Air Force successfully flight tested an upgraded High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). The HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM) is more precise and accurate, which reduces potential collateral damage.
During this test mission, an F-16 aircraft fired an HCSM, AGM-88F, against an emitter located outside of a zone of exclusion, which contained a similar radiating emitter. The HCSM used its new global positioning system (GPS)/inertial measurement unit (IMU) capability and successfully impacted the correct target. Another HCSM test mission is needed to determine if HCSM is ready for deployment to the U.S. Air Force.
"Raytheon's HCSM offers the warfighter enhanced capabilities at an affordable price, providing best value for suppression of enemy air defense weapon options," said Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon Air Warfare Systems.
The Air Force awarded Raytheon the HCSM contract in 2012. The missile was recently cleared for full rate production.
About HARM and HCSM
The AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile is a key battlefield element to suppress or destroy surface-to-air missile radars, early warning radars, and radar-directed air defense artillery systems. HARMs have made hostile airspaces worldwide safer for U.S. and allied warfighters. The missile resides in the inventories of eight countries.
- More than 4,000 HARMs have been employed in combat.
- HCSM adds GPS/IMU navigation accuracy, giving HARM the ability to engage time-critical targets.
- HCSM has new features that allow it to engage a wide range of modern SAMs, are resistant to counter-HARM tactics, and reduces the risk of fratricide or collateral damage.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 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.
Source: http://www.raytheon.com/