Raytheon touts Griffin missile

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PARIS, June 14 (UPI) -- Raytheon reports that the U.S. Navy is continuing to demonstrate the capabilities of the company's irregular warfare missile, the Griffin.

In a recent live-fire event, Griffin B missiles destroyed fast-moving small boats. In each case, the missile -- launched from a sea-based platform -- achieved a direct hit after being fired from about 1.2 miles, the company said.

"This demonstration shows the Griffin missile's effectiveness in engaging the type of small, fast-moving boats used by swarming threats and pirates," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line.

"Griffin is fully developed, in production, lightweight, precise and can be easily integrated on a wide variety of vessels, making it an excellent weapon for near-term threats."

The Griffin is an air- and ground-launched weapon that reaches its target through using GPS coordinates or laser designation. It is designed to cause minimal collateral damage.

It weighs 33 pounds, is 43 inches long, and carries a 13-pound warhead.

Griffin comes in two variants. The Griffin A is an aft-eject missile and has been integrated on the C-130 Harvest Hawk. It is in full production. The Griffin B is a forward-firing missile for helicopters and with land and sea applications.

Raytheon announced the testing at the Eurosatory exhibition in France.