Raytheon and Aerojet Demonstrate SM-3 Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 15, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company and Aerojet have successfully demonstrated the capability of a Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) for Standard Missile-3 (SM-3).

The full system ground test July 27 was conducted at Aerojet's Sacramento, Calif., facility to simulate space flight and is a major milestone toward validating the TDACS design.

TDACS -- a propulsion and maneuvering system for the SM-3's kinetic warhead (KW) once it has detached from the third-stage rocket -- is intended for SM-3 Block IB, to be introduced in flight tests in late 2008. The SM-3 Block IB missile is being designed by Raytheon to provide increased capability.

"Throttling ability equals flexibility," said Edward Miyashiro, Raytheon's vice president of Naval Weapon Systems. "TDACS has the ability to dynamically vary its thrust and its operating time. It also has the potential to offer higher thrust levels, making the system more capable against various threats. TDACS is also easier to produce, thus holding the potential for significant cost savings."

The Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy jointly manage the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program. Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz., is the prime contractor for the SM-3 missile.

Aerojet, a GenCorp Inc. company, is developing the Solid TDACS for Raytheon.

Raytheon Company , with 2005 sales of $21.9 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.

Notes to editors:

1. Four of the 10 proportional TDACS pintle thrusters move the kinetic warhead sideways while the six other thrusters maintain the KW seeker's angular alignment and view of the target. On-board electronic controls and software actively manage the solid-propellant gas generator's thrust level by throttling the combustion pressure up and down, similar to an automobile's gas pedal, to alternate between high thrust and coast periods.

2. Raytheon's missile defense hit-to-kill successes with the Standard Missile-3 occurred Jan. 25, June 13 and Nov. 21, 2002; Dec. 11, 2003; Feb. 24 and Nov. 17, 2005, and June 22, 2006. Successes with the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System occurred Oct. 2, 1999; July 13 and Dec. 3, 2001; and March 15 and Oct. 14, 2002.

Contact: For Raytheon For Aerojet Sara Hammond Rob Huff 520-794-7810 916.355.2143