Air worthiness release certification moves program toward operational employment
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Army have completed the certification process for air worthiness release (AWR) of the TALON Laser-Guided Rocket (LGR) on the Apache AH-64D/E Attack helicopter. The AWR certification provides for potential operational employment of the TALON weapon system on U.S. Army Apaches and Apaches in international fleets.
The TALON LGR is a low-cost, digital semi-active laser guidance and control kit co-developed with the United Arab Emirates. TALON integrates directly to the front of the legacy 2.75-inch Hydra-70 unguided rockets.
“With completion of the AWR, we can offer Apache customers an affordable guided-rocket solution that provides capability within the current Hydra-70 rocket firing envelope,” said Darryl Kreitman, Raytheon TALON program director. “TALON’s architecture and ease of employment make it a low-cost, highly precise weapon for missions in urban environments, counter insurgency and swarming boat defense missions.”
TALON requires no hardware or software modifications to the launcher or aircraft platform and can be fired from any aircraft that fires 2.75-inch Hydra-70 unguided rockets using the standard M260/261 launchers.
