HARLOW: A Raytheon Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb was successfully released for the first time, on 18 June, from the Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role fighter in support of Stores Release and Jettison trials.
The Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) BAE Systems Eurofighter Typhoon Integration Team provided significant support in supplying and clearing the Paveway™ IV ballistic rounds for these trials.
A total of 15 releases are planned in the very near future to evaluate the safe Release & Jettison envelope in different aircraft store configurations, attitudes and speeds. The releases are part of the ongoing Eurofighter Typhoon Phase 1 Enhancements programme.
Additionally, on the 9 June the team successfully completed “Gunfire Vibration Trials” involving the live firing of the Typhoon’s MauserWerke BK-27 cannon (mounted internally in the fuselage, forward of the starboard wing) and carriage of six Raytheon Paveway IV inert Precision Guided Bombs. Four of the six Paveway IVs were specially developed Environmental Test Rounds, designed to collect on-weapon and aircraft recorded shock and vibration data in order to characterise the payload configuration.
The “Gunfire Vibration Trials” trial were not originally part of the scheduled performance programme and required a significant degree of agility and dedicated teamwork on the part of RSL and BAE Systems in order to utilise a small window opportunity to achieve this milestone.
Mark Tennison, Head of Typhoon Aircraft Weapons Integration Team at RSL said: “The multiple on-time successes in June for the Typhoon Paveway IV Integration programme indicates the continued health and robustness of the integrated team approach. It also reflects the ability to sustain agility, responsiveness and on-time-delivery in what is both a complex and challenging integration programme, involving a number of different international stakeholders.
“Achieving these milestone successes adds to the continuing high level of confidence that RSL and BAE Systems will deliver the Typhoon Paveway IV capability in line with customer expectations.”
This success follows on from the Operational deployment of Paveway IV in November 2008 on the Harrier GR9 and the recent clearance under an Urgent Operational Requirement for Paveway™ IV deployment on Tornado GR4. The Paveway IV weapon has become the freefall weapon of choice among UK Royal Air Force pilots flying missions in Kandahar, with the weapon’s performance being quoted as “very impressive”.
Raytheon Systems Limited is the U.K.-based subsidiary of Raytheon Company. It is a prime contractor and major supplier to the U.K. Ministry of Defence and has developed strong capabilities in mission systems integration in defence, national security and commercial markets. RSL also designs, develops and manufactures a range of high technology electronic systems and software at its facilities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.
