original
TUCSON, April 11 (UPI) -- Raytheon has received a production contract for RAM ship-defense missiles to be supplied to South Korea.
The RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) is designed as a defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, such as North Korea's crude but effective HY-2 and Silkworm.
The $17.4 million Foreign Military Sales pact awarded by the U.S. Navy specifies 30 RAM Block 1/HAS (helicopter, aircraft, ship) missile rounds that will be built by Arizona-based Raytheon and Germany's RAM-System GmbH. It is a modification of an original production contract with South Korea.
"This sale strengthens the Republic of Korea Navy's commitment to RAM Block 1/HAS as its ship self-defense weapon of choice for KDX II-class ships," said RAM Program Director Todd Callahan.
RAM systems are mounted on more than 60 warships worldwide and are considered a "fire-and-forget" supersonic weapon that is launched quickly and at relatively close maximum range of 11 miles. Originally developed specifically to counter the cruise missile threat, the HAS upgrade makes the RAM an effective weapon against surface ships, planes and helicopters.
Measuring just 5 inches in diameter, the RAM incorporates the warhead and motor technology of the famed Sidewinder air-to-air missile along with the heat-seeking capabilities of the Stinger anti-aircraft rocket. The weapon is housed in a shipboard launcher that carries 11 or 21 individual missiles.
No comments:
Post a Comment