Raytheon Missile Systems out of Tucson, Ariz., has received a $64.4 million contract for design and engineering services for the MK-31 missile.

The support services will maintain current systems as well as improve design, engineering and other services for the Rolling Airframe Missile upgraded MK-31 Guided Missile Weapon System Improvement Program.

The contract will provide purchases for the U.S. Navy. A memorandum of understanding will provide for procurement by Germany and Egypt under foreign military sales. It includes options that if exercised could bring the total value of the program to $301.7 million.

Work will be performed in Tucson and is expected to be completed by Sep. 2020. Options could carry the work through Jul. 2023. Navy procurement funds of $14.6 million will be obligated upon time of award. Navy 2018 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $311,928 will be obligated and expire at the end of the fiscal year.

The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is designed for point-defense against incoming anti-ship missiles and close-in air and surface threats. It uses the the MK-31 weapons system which can mount 21 missiles and use the ships other sensor systems for guidance data alongside radio-frequency and infrared seeker heads.

The fire-and-forget nature of the missile means the MK-31 can engage multiple targets simultaneously. Variants include the SeaRAM, which mounts on the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System in replacement of the 20mm Gatling gun, making the missile system autonomous for quick reaction and engagement time.

The RAM is mounted on a variety of U.S. and foreign allied ship classes,including aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and littoral combat ships. The Block 2A is an upgrade currently in development of the deployed Block 2

RAM is a joint program between the U.S. and German navies and deployed on allied ships across the world. South Korea, Japan, Egypt, Greece and other countries deploy the system.

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State Department approves sale of AMRAAM missiles to Denmark
Washington (UPI) Jul 11, 2018
The State Department has approved the possible sale of AIM-120 C7 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to Denmark under a foreign military sale. Denmark has requested a purchase of 28 of the missiles and one spare guidance section. The potential contract, announced Tuesday by the Department of Defense, includes spare parts, testing equipment and technical support. The estimated cost of the program is $90 million. The State Department says that the purchase will contribute to US security by strengt ... read more