Raytheon at AUVSI's Unmanned Systems 2011

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Small Tactical Munition
By Cody Tretschok
Today, when Shadow-class Unmanned Aircraft System operators see bad-guys planting improvised explosive devices, there’s not much they can do.  But that’s about to change, thanks to Small Tactical Munition (STM), an ultra-precise weapon we’ve developed at Raytheon Missile Systems. Read more.

Small Tactical Munition
By Cody Tretschok

Today, when Shadow-class Unmanned Aircraft System operators see bad-guys planting improvised explosive devices, there’s not much they can do.  But that’s about to change, thanks to Small Tactical Munition (STM), an ultra-precise weapon we’ve developed at Raytheon Missile Systems.

When UAS’ are equipped with STM, flight controllers can act on intelligence as they collect it. Because STM is a dual-mode GPS/laser guided weapon, the 22-inch, 12 pound gravity bomb is incredibly precise.  STM also has a small but powerful warhead, which minimizes collateral damage by precisely controlling the effects of the blast.

STM small size and offers other advantages to the warfighter. Because STM is just a fraction of the size of current Cold War-era weapon being employed from Predator-class UAS', you could replace a single Hellfire with seven or eight STMs, giving the warfighter more bullets and allowing them to respond to more threats during a 14-hour mission,

Raytheon makes the majority of the world’s precision guided weapons so we understand just how important precision is to the warfighter and what it takes to weaponize a UAS. With STM, we’re using this expertise—and even investing in it—to save the lives of warfighters by enabling swift and precise action.

Service Oriented Architecture
By Michael High
At Raytheon, we’ve invested in and developed a service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework that will not only give the warfighter timely access to critical capabilities, but also create cost-savings. Read more.

Service Oriented Architecture
By Michael High

Today, rewrites to the proprietary operational flight software of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are time consuming and costly, preventing rapid incorporation of key technology upgrades. At Raytheon, we’ve invested in and developed a service-oriented architecture (SOA) framework that will not only give the warfighter timely access to critical capabilities, but also create cost-savings.

The framework we’ve developed is open and platform independent and enables rapid integration of weapons, non-kinetic effectors, communication devices, sensors, and other mission systems using domain managers. You can think of the SOA framework as a tablet computer, and the domain managers as apps that control the weapons, sensors and communication systems for the UAS.

We’re completing development of an effects domain manager that enables sensor and weapon integration in support of a top level goal to reduce the response timeline in the kill chain. Our framework’s open architecture means that any domain manager or service can be integrated onto it, giving the warfighter access to the latest technology. And, because our solution is platform independent, it can be integrated onto a wide range of unmanned aircraft systems.

With SOA, we’re reaching across our enterprise and pooling our technical expertise and resources to develop a framework that will give the warfighter access to the latest UAS technology—at a lower cost.

Open Architecture Innovation Efforts
by Mark Bigham
Raytheon recently submitted an unsolicited proposal to the U.S. Air Force that would extend the service life of the Global Hawk ground segments currently in operation, providing significant cost reductions.
Read more.

Open Architecture Innovation Efforts
By Mike Bigham

One of the most important things that we can do as a country is make sure that they have open, government-owned interfaces. With open interfaces the government can control different components and compete those components, and the competition drives down costs and increases innovation. Once you have an open interface you can allow others to get in the market and drive down cost. Competition is good; it does drive down price and drives up innovation.

Read the Defense Daily Article.