Raytheon has begun purchasing long-lead material for production of enhanced fibre-optic-guided missiles (EFOGMs) destined for the US Army.
The US aerospace firm was recently awarded $5.1 million of a $35 million contract to begin making 256 EFOGMs. The weapon, which will equip one company by the year 2000, will be used to defend lightly armed US troops against armoured vehicles and helicopters.
Raytheon has so far received $126 million for EFOGM development and procurement. The project is now entering the flight-test phase. Hughes Aircraft, Westinghouse and Boeing also competed for the contract.
The EFOGM, with a maximum range of 15km (8nm), is a non-line-of-sight weapon. Each EFOGM system will consist of eight missiles, carried on a high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle. The US Army plans to buy a total of 278 EFOGMs and 21 fire units.
The EFOGM is equipped with an infra-red seeker. The image is transmitted from the missile to a gunner over a fibre-optic datalink, which pays out as the missile flies toward a target. The operator provides steering signals to the missile for terminal guidance.
Source: Flight International