Article Posted on : - Apr 02, 2013

Block 2 Rolling Airframe Missiles. Photo: Raytheon.

TUCSON, ARIZONA (BNS): Raytheon Company has received a $155.6 million contract, the largest single RAM award by Germany, to manufacture Block 2 Rolling Airframe Missiles for delivery to the German navy.

RAM is a cooperative programme between the US and German governments with industry support from Raytheon and RAMSYS of Germany. The contract calls for production work to be shared between both companies.

RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile providing defence 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 provides a high-firepower capability for engaging multiple threats simultaneously.

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 manoeuvrability.

The improved missile also incorporates an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker and a digital autopilot.

RAM is aboard nearly 100 ships as an integral self-defence weapon for the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.