TUCSON, May 9 (UPI) -- Raytheon and the U.S. Army report successful completion of control test vehicle flights for a new system to combat incoming artillery, rockets and mortars.
The Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative program system is designed to counter a wider array of threats than those handled by systems deployed by the military.
"With the completion of the CTV flights, the AI3 program remains on schedule," said Raytheon Missile Systems' Steve Bennett, AI3 program director. "Raytheon is committed to providing an affordable and highly effective solution to save warfighter lives."
In the recent CTV testing, the system's fire control radar -- using a K-Band Radio Frequency system -- detected an inbound threat (a 107mm rocket), determined its impact area and provided command data to the AI3 missile.
The missile successfully maneuvered on a calculated trajectory necessary for intercept. In upcoming tests an onboard semi-active radar seeker will provide terminal intercept guidance to the missile.
"The AI3 program has made excellent progress to date," said Lt. Col. Brett Wilhide, the U.S. Army's project manager for AI3. "We are now ready to progress to the guided test vehicle flight test phase of the program. Those tests will demonstrate the full integration of the tactical AI3 battle element system to intercept threat targets."
