Mercury Computer Systems Selected by Raytheon for STANDARD Missile-3 LEAP Program.Business/Technology Editors CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2001 Next-Generation SM-3 Design to Intercept Incoming Theater Ballistic Missiles Outside the Earth's Atmosphere Mercury Computer Systems Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. NASDAQ: MRCY provides high-performance embedded, real-time digital signal and image processing solutions. Mercury designs and builds embedded multicomputers, which may be considered to be either loosely coupled , Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : MRCY) announced today that Raytheon Company's Missile Systems business unit has selected Mercury's commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) RACE Series(tm) multicomputer systems for testing the STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) Kinetic Warhead. The SM-3 is designed solely for sea-based theater ballistic missile defense (TBMD), and the kinetic warhead is designed to intercept an incoming theater ballistic missile threat outside the Earth's atmosphere. The upper portion of the SM-3 missile includes a third-stage rocket motor, a new GPS-based guidance section, and a kinetic kill warhead. "Our previous success with Mercury's systems in the Exo-Atmospheric Kill Vehicle program, for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization Noun 1. Ballistic Missile Defense Organization - an agency in the Department of Defense that is responsible for making ballistic missile defense a reality BMDO and the National Missile Defense National Missile Defense (NMD) as a generic term is a military strategy and associated systems to shield an entire country against incoming Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The missiles could be intercepted by other missiles, or possibly by lasers. program, aided in our decision to use their products for LEAP," said Michael Leal LEAL. Loyal; that which belongs to the law. , SM-3 KW program director at Raytheon's Missile Systems business unit in Tucson, Arizona. "Mercury's advanced digital signal processing See DSP. Digital Signal Processing - (DSP) Computer manipulation of analog signals (commonly sound or image) which have been converted to digital form (sampled). systems feature a scalable architecture that is critical for software code reuse. This design leverages current software capability and common computer architectures to support advanced discrimination algorithms that create an appropriate image scene during simulated flight tests." The United States is continuing an aggressive theater ballistic missile defense program, led by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), and it has pursued several major defense acquisition programs. The U.S. Navy is developing the SM-3 as part of the Navy Theater Wide (NTW) system. The NTW system builds upon the BMDO investment in LEAP technology, the Navy's STANDARD Missile and existing infrastructure, and will deploy on AEGIS ships. By leveraging its existing investment in the AEGIS-equipped ships deployed around the world, the AEGIS combat system The Aegis combat system is an integrated missile guidance system used by the United States Navy. It is both an integrated single ship system and a ship-to-ship network. The Aegis combat system is one of the most advanced and most capable defense systems currently in use. , the vertical launching system For the Brazilian Space Agency launcher, see . A Vertical Launching System (VLS) is a type of missile-firing system used aboard the submarines and surface vessels of several navies around the world. , and the STANDARD Missile, the Navy will be able to provide a forward deployed theater ballistic missile defense capability. These NTW capabilities complement the AEGIS program's Area Wide TBMD capability, including the AN/SPY-1 radar's Linear Search/Track Processor enhancement that is supported by Mercury's RACE Series multicomputer systems (see Mercury press release April 10, 2000). "The state-of-the-art SM-3 is intended to provide U.S. and allied forces protection from rogue theater ballistic missiles and is designed to reduce the threat posed by chemical, biological or nuclear weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or by providing a wide defended area," said Vince Mancuso, vice president and general manager of Mercury's Government Electronics Group. "The combination of Raytheon's software with Mercury's systems provides a realistic testing environment for LEAP, and the design provides for sensing and signal processing upgrades needed to counter an advancing threat." Additional information about the LEAP program is available at www.raytheon.com/es/esproducts/dssleap/dssleap.htm and at www.global-defence.com/pages/ballist.html. A high-resolution photograph of the SM-3 is available on Mercury's web site at www.mc.com/press_room/image_library/ image_detail.cfm?id=42&category=Applications About Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) is the leading independent producer of high-performance embedded, real-time digital signal and image processing computer systems that transform sensor data to information for analysis and interpretation. Mercury's products play a critical role in a wide range of defense electronics and medical imaging applications. In air-, sea-, and land-based military platforms, these systems process real-time radar, sonar, and signals intelligence data. Mercury's systems are also used in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic devices, including magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), noninvasive diagnostic technique that uses nuclear magnetic resonance to produce cross-sectional images of organs and other internal body structures. (MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. ), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography positron emission tomography: see PET scan. positron emission tomography (PET) Imaging technique used in diagnosis and biomedical research. (PET), and the rapidly growing field of digital X-ray. Based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Mercury serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia through its direct sales force and a network of subsidiaries and distributors. About Raytheon Company With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon Company (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : RTN) is a global technology leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, and business and special mission aircraft. Visit Mercury on the Web: www.mc.com RACE Series is a trademark of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Photograph available: www.mc.com/press_room/image_library/ |
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