CLAWS Scores Direct Hit, Marking the End of Development Testing

Raytheon Co, TEWKSBURY, Mass: Raytheon Company's Complementary Low Altitude Weapon System (CLAWS) completed a series of guided missile flight tests with a resounding direct hit, annihilating the surrogate cruise missile target.  
 
Flight tests were conducted at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., supported by elements of the 3rd LAAD (3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion) and MACS 23 and 1 (Marine Air Control Squadrons 23 and 1). The completion of these flight tests marks the end of development testing.  
 
This test demonstrated the complete “Family of Systems” architecture. The large volume air picture was provided by the TPS-59 radar and AN/TYQ-23 Tactical Air Operations Module. Close air picture and tracking data were provided by the Thales Raytheon Systems MPQ-64 Sentinel Radar. Command and control, with air picture and track correlation, was performed by the Marine Air Defense Communications Platform updated with the Raytheon Solipsys Multi-Source Correlator Tracker and Tactical Display Framework. Fire control and launch were by the CLAWS launcher. Intercept was by the Raytheon Missile Systems AIM-120 AMRAAM.  
 
“This test truly demonstrated Raytheon's maturity as a Mission Systems Integrator. In this case, we integrated fielded equipment with minimal development items to rapidly provide the warfighter a much needed capability,” said Dan Smith, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.  
 
CLAWS is an all-weather, highly mobile, high firepower air defense system for the Marine Expeditionary Forces. The system uses the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle as its platform and the AIM-120 AMRAAM as its interceptor. CLAWS is block fielded as the Marine variant to the Ground Launched AMRAAM common launcher program.  
 
Based in Tewksbury, Mass., Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in mission systems integration. With a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. Armed Forces, Integrated Defense Systems provides integrated air and missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting solutions.