EFOGM Ninth Test Flight Successful.

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1999--

The U. S. Army's Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile (EFOGM), under development by Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTNA)(NYSE:RTNB), had a successful ninth flight Sept. 20 at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

This EFOGM test flight marked another success in the EFOGM Advanced Technology Demonstration flight and ground equipment test program. An instrumented tactical EFOGM fire unit launched a Guided Test Vehicle missile from its launcher-mounted storage canister. The gunner, SSG David R. Butrum from "A" Company, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C., identified and locked onto his desired target and achieved a direct hit after the missile had flown 6.2 kilometers from the launch site. This was the first EFOGM full flight test to integrate a soldier gunner and a live tactical warhead, and both were highly successful. The EFOGM warhead detonated upon target impact with the warhead functioning as planned. During this night flight, as was the case on three prior missions, the missile's imaging infrared seeker successfully demonstrated the ability to detect and track enemy stationary and moving targets which were displayed on the gunner's console.

Doug Seay, Army EFOGM acting project manager, said, "EFOGM has successfully hit its intended targets at varying ranges three times. Tonight, SSG Butrum has demonstrated that a soldier can successfully operate the system, and SSG Butrum's success brings great credit upon himself, "A" Company, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, and the United States Army. EFOGM's successes coupled with its proven lethal warhead validate its capability to provide light forces a non-line-of-sight, long-range precision fire capability."

"EFOGM's demonstrated precision and lethality provide U. S. forces the ability to strike high value targets while minimizing the risk of fratricide and collateral damage and keeping either the soldier gunner or supporting air assets out of harm's way," said Jerry Lockard, Raytheon Systems Company vice president. "EFOGM has clearly demonstrated its success as a lethal potential military asset by putting steel on target three times. In addition, it has demonstrated its versatility as an offensive and defensive weapon system and fully capable reconnaissance asset."

EFOGM is a non-line-of sight, extended range, precision strike missile system allowing a brigade/division commander to engage threat armor systems, helicopters and other high-value targets before they reach the Forward Line of Troops. The system employs a 240-micron fiber optic cable, which provides passive continuous jam-proof and spoof-proof control of the missile from the fire unit during flight. The fiber optic cable allows most of the guidance electronics for the EFOGM system to be contained in the fire unit, a heavy High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle mounted control system.

The Army's EFOGM is an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program and is a major player in the Army's Rapid Force Projection Initiative (RFPI) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD). The EFOGM ATD contract was awarded to Raytheon Company in May 1995. EFOGM successfully completed the RFPI ACTD Field Experiment during July-August 1998 at Fort Benning, Ga.

Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics, engineering and construction, and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 80 countries around the world.