The Navy has completed the first round of developmental and operational testing of the second block of the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) intended to defend ships against anti-ship cruise missiles and other threats, manufacturer Raytheon [RTN] said yesterday.
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| The Rolling Airframe Missile. Photo by Raytheon |
The Navy used a self-defense test ship to conduct the at-sea testing. The RAM missiles engaged two targets in duel salvo scenarios to demonstrate the latest capabilities in the system.
“The DT/OT tests successfully engaged high-speed, maneuvering and sub-sonic, maneuvering targets with all four RAM block 2 missiles meeting test objectives,” Raytheon said. Raytheon’s vice president for naval missile systems, Rick Nelson, said the Block 2 version of RAM brings increased kinematic capability.
The Navy awarded the contract for 61 RAMs in low-rate initial-production in December 2012.
The RAM upgrade also includes a four-axis independent control actuator system and an increase in rocket motor capability to improve range and maneuverability, as well as an upgraded passive radio frequency seeker, a digital autopilot and re-engineered part of infrared seeker components.
RAM is installed on most Navy ships, and on vessels belonging to Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.