Raytheon, Army test new SLAMRAAM platform

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WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Raytheon's Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile has been successfully fired from a new Tactical Vehicle platform in Florida.

Multiple test firings of the missile from a Medium Tactical Vehicle platform instead of from a Humvee took place at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to evaluate launch effects on the vehicle, Raytheon said in a news release.

"We continue to partner with the U.S. Army to develop a SLAMRAAM system that is affordable, adaptable and responsive to today's evolving threats," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president, National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The firing of an AMRAAM missile from the new FMTV platform culminates the successful efforts of our government-industry team to transition this critical air and missile defense capability to a more survivable platform for our warfighters."

SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art, air defense system used by the U.S. Army that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats and can be integrated with other assets, such as Hawk, Patriot or sea-based Aegis units.

The U.S. Army has decided to change the missile's launch platform from Humvees to larger vehicles.

Raytheon said additional test firings are planned.