Raytheon Co., teamed with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, has been selected by the US Army to develop the XM 1111 Mid-range Munition for the Future Combat System’s Mounted Combat System. Valued at $232.3 M, the 63-month contract covers system design and development.
“This award establishes Raytheon as the leader in the development of affordable precision-guided projectiles,” says Louise Francesconi, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “We embrace our role as the primary provider of precision projectiles for the United States and we look forward to working in partnership with the Army, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and our suppliers as we develop this revolutionary capability for the Army’s current and future forces.”
Mid-range Munition incorporates proven technology using a dual-mode seeker suite comprising an imaging infrared sensor and a digital semi-active laser seeker. The dual-mode seeker was developed and successfully demonstrated during a two-year, army-managed science and technology program.
In its proposal, Raytheon chose a multipurpose chemical energy warhead for the Mid-range Munition. “For the beyond-line-of-sight mission, we believe that the chemical energy warhead, with proven lethality against the primary target of threat armor, is the best solution,” said Rodger Elkins, director of advanced tactical weapons for Raytheon’s Advanced Programs product line. “It provides better effects against the secondary targets of buildings, fortifications and light armor than a less versatile kinetic energy penetrator.” Raytheon’s aggressive cost control initiatives provide the Army with a proven, low-risk, affordable product as it enters into the system design and development phase. Such initiative cost solutions are easily transferable to Raytheon’s other precision-guided projectiles, such as the company’s highly successful, combat-proven Excalibur 155 mm artillery projectile. Work on the Mid-range Munition will be performed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, AZ.