Product Type: |
Shipboard Missile Defense System |
Using Service (US): |
Navy |
Program Status: |
In Production (RIM-116C Block 2). |
Prime Contractor: |
Raytheon Company |
The Raytheon
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile
designed to engage anti-ship cruise missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats, including helicopter/other airborne threats
and enemy surface vessels. According to Raytheon, RAM has been fired in more than 300 flight tests with a 95% success rate.
The RIM-116 RAM was developed as a cooperative program between the U.S. and German governments and continues to be cooperatively
produced and supported (more information below). The systems' design is based upon the infrared seeker of the FIM-92 Stinger missile.
There are three RIM-116 variants, including the Block 0 (RIM-116A), Block 1 (RIM-116B),
and Block 2 (RIM-116C). The Block 0 was the original RAM variant
(same rocket motor, fuze, and warhead as the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile).
The Block 1 added the capability of infrared all-the-way guidance while maintaining the original dual-mode
passive Radio Frequency/Infrared (RF/IR) guidance system from Block 0. Block 1 was purchased by the U.S. Navy until FY 2011.
The RIM-116C Block 2 is the next step in the development of the Rolling Airframe Missile.
The Navy started purchasing this variant in FY 2012.
The Block 2 missile features a kinematic and RF receiver upgrade, a larger and more powerful rocket motor, and an advanced control section.
This makes the missile three times as maneuverable as the Block 1 missile with twice the effective intercept range.
According to Raytheon, this makes the RIM-116C missile able to defeat high-maneuver threats and intercept crossing threats.
The enhanced RF receiver allows detection of anti-ship missiles that employ low probability of intercept radars.
The RIM-116 is fired from the Raytheon Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS), which holds 21 Mk 44 Guided Missile Round Packs (GMRP).
The Mk 49 and Mk 44 comprise the Mk 31 Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS). Mk 31 GMWS is the most modern ship self-defense weapon system
in the world and has been specifically designed to provide protection for ships of all sizes. The system is currently deployed
on more than 165 ships in seven fleets, ranging from Nimitz Class aircraft carriers (weighing up to 106,000 metric tons) to smaller fast attack craft.
The RIM-116 missile is fully operational in the U.S. and German navies with more than 3,400 missiles and 180 launchers deployed.
It is installed on the majority of new U.S. Navy ship classes, including the LHA 6 America Class
Amphibious Assault Ship, the Ford Class (CVN 78 Class) aircraft carrier, and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Worldwide, RAM is installed or planned for installation aboard more than 165 ships the navies of Egypt, Germany, Greece, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Under the RAM international cooperative agreement between the United States and Germany (signed in August 1987),
development and production work is shared between Raytheon
in the U.S. and the German companies LFK, Diehl BGT Defence and RAMSYS.
The United States and Germany signed a new Block 1 production agreement on June 24, 2008 to cooperatively produce RIM-116B missiles,
launchers and Ordnance Alterations (ORDALTs). The Block 2 Production MOU was signed on March 19, 2013 with the U.S and Germany to cooperatively produce
Block 2 missiles, launchers, and ORDALTs and continue to provide support for Block 1 configuration missiles through FY 2019.
On U.S. Navy ships, the RIM-116 missile and Mk 31 GMWS are integrated with Mk 1 and Mk 2 variants of the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS).
The SSDS integrates the AN/SPS-67 and AN/SPS-73 Surface Search Radars, AN/SPS-48E radar antenna, AN/SPS-49A(V)1 Air Search Radar,
AN/SPQ-9B multi-purpose surface search & fire control radar, AN/UPX-29 Interrogator System,
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Attack System, Mk 53 NULKA Anti-Ship Missile Decoy Launching System, Mk 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS),
Mk 31 GMWS and RIM-116, NATO Sea Sparrow missile system, and the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).
On August 1, 2012, Raytheon was awarded a $51.7 million contract ($105 million including options) for the low rate initial production (LRIP)
of the RAM Block 2 missile. On April 1, 2013, Raytheon Company was awarded a $155.6 million contract for the manufacture of Block 2
missiles for delivery to the German Navy (Deutsche Marine).
On December 31, 2015, Raytheon was awarded a $66.6 million contract ($142.8 million including options) for RAM Block 2 production.
In August 2014, Raytheon delivered the first RIM-116C Block 2 missiles to the U.S. Navy.
On May 29, 2015, Raytheon announced that Initial Operational Capability (IOC) had been achieved for the RIM-116C Block 2 missile.
A 15-year RIM-116 RAM production forecast is available through Forecast International's Platinum Forecast System, which includes a breakout of total market unit and value statistics by manufacturer and end-user. This real-time service also includes information on all prime and subcontractors, contract awards, worldwide inventories, a complete program history, and a rationale detailing the outlook of the program. A 10-year RIM-116 production forecast is also available in report format through Forecast International's Missile Forecast service.
The mission of the RAM System is to provide high firepower close-in defense of combatant and auxiliary ships by utilizing a dual mode, passive radio frequency/infrared missile in a compact missile launcher.
This data is available in Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, a comprehensive analytical database containing historical and forecast budget figures, year-to-year funding comparisons, congressional budget markups, program justification documents, and much more.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Raytheon Company.
By Forecast International /// Contact Us for Data Products and Consulting Services
Missile Forecast: |
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Complete and detailed information, including production forecast data, is provided in our Market Intelligence Service: Missile Forecast. |
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