Raytheon outlines approach to DARPA project

19th August 2011 - 08:41 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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An ongoing series of Raytheon Company trade studies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program revealed there is broad, cross-service applicability to Raytheon's proposed solution.

Raytheon's proposed PCAS solution will develop technologies that significantly reduce the timeline for close air support through improved coordination among Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), airborne sensors and weapons.

"Because we are a mission systems integrator and are designing to the effect, not the platform, our flexible solution is as relevant to Marines, Soldiers and Sailors as it is to Airmen," said Bob Francois, vice president of Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. "We're the world leaders in designing, building and integrating precision-guided munitions, so figuring out smarter ways to employ weapons falls within our area of expertise."

Raytheon's approach to PCAS will enable the controllers to employ unmanned aircraft and rapidly and effectively select weapons. Raytheon's PCAS solution will decrease the JTAC's workload while improving their situational awareness.

Raytheon is integrating the work of several team members including Rockwell Collins and GE Aviation. Raytheon is using an open architecture approach to enable PCAS to grow and integrate into current and future command and control systems.

Source: Raytheon