Raytheon refurbishing electronic warfare missile payload

ALBUQUERQUE, March 24 (UPI) -- Raytheon has received a U.S Air Force contract to update an electronic warfare payload for cruise missiles.

The system is a non-kinetic package known as CHAMP -- Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile -- which will disrupt enemy electronic systems and will be carried by Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, or CALCMs.

CHAMP, by Boeing, was first demonstrated in late 2012 by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, but this will be the first continued activity on the system since then.

"Non-kinetic systems give the U.S. the option to defeat enemy infrastructure with little collateral damage," said Dr. Thomas Bussing, vice president of Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems. "The pairing of CHAMP and CALCM, a proven weapon, lowers risk and brings tomorrow's capabilities forward to today."

Under the $4.8 million award, Raytheon will refurbish the CHAMP payload and a pair of CALCMs and then deliver them to the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Raytheon's industry team for the project includes Boeing and Sandia National Laboratories.