Upgraded Patriot Two for Two in Successful Cruise Missile Target Intercepts.WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), formerly known as the White Sands Proving Grounds, is a rocket range in New Mexico operated by the United States Army. The range covers an area of almost 3,200 mi² (8 287 km²), approximately three times the size of Rhode Island, making it , N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 1999--Raytheon Company (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :RTNA RTNA Ring Tone No Answer , RTNB RTNB Radio Television Nationale du Burundi (Africa) RTNB Return the Next Bit (computers) ) has conducted its second successful flight test in two attempts of the Patriot upgrade for anti-cruise missile capability. The Sept.10 test at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., resulted in a successful intercept of a BQM-74E sub-scale target flying at low altitude to simulate a cruise missile cruise missile, low-flying, continuously powered offensive missile designed to evade defense systems. Although the German V-1 (1944) was a simple cruise missile, the cruise missile did not realize its potential until the 1970s, when the United States sought to threat. The fire unit used the most current version of Patriot ground equipment and software to support the test. Raytheon?s first test occurred July 19, 1999, and resulted in a successful intercept of an MQM-107 sub-scale target flying at low altitude. "We are extremely pleased with the continued success of the anti-cruise missile upgrade program for Patriot," said Ed Franklin, vice president, Air and Missile Defense Systems, Raytheon Systems Company. "This upgrade could provide the Army and international users with a potential cost effective alternative to modernize the existing inventory of Patriot missiles and significantly improve the performance of the fielded Patriot weapon system against stressing cruise missiles." 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 United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and serves customers in more than 80 countries around the world. |
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