|
Fish Hawk, a wing kit system, has been purpose
built for the US Navy's High Altitude ASW Weapons
Capability (HAAWC) program, specifically with
the new P-8 Poseidon in mind, eight variants of
which (P8-I) have also been ordered by India.
This tested and proven weapon system enables
maritime patrol operators to release a torpedo
at high altitude, with a greatly extended launch
envelope. The system then flies an optimum Global
Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System
(GPS/INS) guided flight profile to a precise splash-point
to seek out, engage and destroy a threat submarine.
Fish Hawk will be available to India, subject
to bilateral government negotiations between Washington
and New Delhi.
Fish HawkT currently combines this high altitude
precision delivery capability with the new MK
54 lightweight torpedo. Upon being released from
the aircraft, Fish Hawk's pivot wing deploys to
place the system into its GPS/INS guided flight
profile. The system glides accurately to the targeted
location using the Fish Hawk's integrated guidance
system and articulated tail fins that provide
its highly responsive directional control.
Once the system descends to the designated target
location at a much lower altitude, the wing kit
releases the torpedo, and a small parachute deploys
to decelerate and stabilize the torpedo for water
entry.
Following water entry, the MK 54's sophisticated
inertial systems and sonar accurately detect and
guide the torpedo to its intended target.
"Raytheon conducted a highly successful
flight test demonstration of its new Fish Hawk
weapon system in March 2008", according to
Mark Borup, a Sr. Manager for Raytheon Missile
Systems Business Development. "The Mk-54
configured demonstration met or exceeded all planned
test points, proving Fish Hawk's effectiveness
in meeting this critical naval requirement. The
test highlighted Fish Hawk's impressive stand-off
range and increased accuracy (CEP) - with a full
360 degree off bore-sight capability".
This proven high altitude solution significantly
enhances aircraft survivability and time-to-engagement,
while extending on-station deployment of advanced
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
(ISR) systems that characterize the future of
ASW. "Fish Hawk's new streamlined design,
with low profile pivot wing, achieves the needed
size and clearance to maximize the payload capacity
of P-8 and other potential ASW platforms,"
he added.
Fish Hawk's unique modularity facilitates the
incorporation of mature, proven components from
other highly successful Raytheon programs in production,
e.g., the Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) and Excalibur,
offering an affordable low-risk solution with
demonstrated performance and reliability",
Borup said.
Using mature, proven components, Fish Hawk is
guided to the target area by a highly integrated
and reliable guidance system. Fish Hawk receives
the targeting information in the preplanned mode
from the ASW aircraft controller and gathers data
while airborne through on-board sensors or other
third-party targeting assets. Borup continued,
"With the incorporation of mature, proven
components , Fish Hawk represents an affordable,
low-risk solution to the long-range, high-altitude
ASW requirement".
Fish Hawk's system modularity also offers advantages
in tailoring options for customer requirements
and cost. One such advantage is a rapid path to
Net enabled capability, should customer needs
dictate.
Raytheon's businesses and partners are strategically
aligned and fully committed to the Navy's P-8/sensors
(Space and Airborne Systems), Mk-54 (Integrated
Defense Systems), and HAAWC/Fish Hawk (Raytheon
Missile Systems) programs. "These synergistic
programs and resources ensure our ability to meet
the most demanding customer requirements with
affordable, fully integrated solutions",
Borup suggested.
"As naval forces prepare for the future
of the ASW fight, Raytheon provides the accuracy,
lethality, reliability and affordability to make
long-range submarine engagement a reality",
Borup said "We provide the eyes and the teeth
(detection and lethality) for Boeing's next generation
maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon".
In early 2009, India signed a $2.1 billion dollar
contract with Boeing for the initial purchase
of the P-8I. Raytheon is a strong contender for
the P-8I APY-10 radar system. Raytheon Space and
Airborne Systems (SAS) is currently teamed with
Boeing's US Navy P-8 program to provide the crucial
APY-10 radar system.
The APY-10 is a premier sensor for small-target
detention in both maritime and overland environments.
This integral system provides superior maritime,
littoral and overland surveillance capability
for assured ASW, Anti -Surface Warfare (ASuW)
and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance
mission support.
In today's changing high-tech world, new, more
potent threats are emerging.
Slow, quiet, diesel submarines, for example,
are now operating in shallow-water, littoral areas.
As a result, lightweight torpedoes designed to
defeat high-speed, nuclear-powered submarines
in open-ocean environments are only part of the
solution. Navies now need a lightweight torpedo
capable of delivering a devastating blow to submarine
threats in both deep and shallow water - and in
various acoustic environments. One proven solution
is the U.S. Navy's MK 54.
In addition, the emerging and rapidly proliferating
subsurface and surface to air threats necessitate
the stand-off ranges and increased precision and
lethality that Fish Hawk brings to the Mk 54 torpedo.
Raytheon's MK 54 is the only lightweight torpedo
capable of effectively striking any target in
the world's oceans, regardless of water depth.
The Mk 54's state-of-the-art Sonar has evolved
from the technology demonstrated in the MK 50,
which was proven through thousands of at-sea runs
conducted against real submarines in countered
scenarios and all environmental conditions. The
sonar nose construction provides low array self-noise;
the acoustic array and digital beamformer provide
superior performance in littoral areas; and the
transmitter flexibility and dual-band receiver
provide extensive and effective volume coverage.
"For more than 25 years, Raytheon has collaborated
with the government of India and been a trusted
and valued partner and technology supplier in
many areas. Raytheon has performed well and delivered
successfully on all of its commitments to India
during this time. Raytheon has recently initiated
several innovative programs with India that will
continue to expand and deepen our valued partnership
in the future, and will enhance our collective
positioning in the global marketplace.
Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion,
is a technology and innovation leader specializing
in defense, homeland security and other government
markets throughout the world. With a history of
innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides
state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration and other capabilities in the areas
of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications
and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range
of mission support services.
|
