CLAWS Scores Direct Hits During Successful Operational Test

Raytheon Company, TEWKSBURY: Raytheon Company's Complementary Low Altitude Weapon System (CLAWS) completed a successful operational test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.  
 
Initial results indicated CLAWS successfully engaged all six targets and achieved all test objectives during the three days of firing.  
 
The completion of the operational test marks the end of development testing and signifies the readiness of CLAWS to enter the fielding phase — IOC (initial operational capability) — of the program. This test demonstrated the complete “Family of Systems” architecture.  
 
“This test truly demonstrated the system's capability to provide the warfighter a reliable and lethal capability to defeat the threats in current and future combat environments,” said Juan Garcia, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems CLAWS program manager. “Working closely with our Marine customers on a very aggressive schedule demonstrated commitment, teamwork and 'Ramp Speed' as the key factors to our success.”  
 
The large volume air picture was provided by the TPS-59 radar and AN/TYQ- 23 Tactical Air Operations Module. Close air picture and tracking data were provided by the Thales Raytheon Systems MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar. Command and control, with air picture and track correlation, was performed by the Marine Air Defense Communications Platform updated with the Raytheon Solipsys Multi- Source Correlator Tracker and Tactical Display Framework. Fire control and launch were by the CLAWS launcher. Intercept was by the Raytheon Missile Systems AIM-120 AMRAAM.  
 
CLAWS is an all-weather, highly mobile, high firepower air defense system for the Marine Expeditionary Forces. The system uses the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle as its platform and the AIM-120 AMRAAM as its interceptor. CLAWS is block fielded as the Marine variant to the Ground Launched AMRAAM common launcher program.  
 
Based in Tewksbury, Mass., Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in joint battlespace integration. With a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces, Integrated Defense Systems provides a wide spectrum of integrated air and missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting solutions.  
 
Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.