Raytheon wins a $85mn contract from USAF for Griffin Block II/III missiles

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World Defense & Security Industry News - Raytheon
 
 
Raytheon wins a $85mn contract from USAF for Griffin Block II/III missiles
 
Raytheon's Missile Systems division has been awarded an $85,500,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for AGM-176 Griffin guided missiles and support, the US Department of Defense announced Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
     
Raytheon wins a 85mn contract from USAF for Griffin Block II III missiles 640 001Raytheon's AGM-176 Griffin Block III
(Credit: Raytheon Company)
     
Under this contract, Raytheon will provide Griffin A and B Block II/III missiles, including test and support equipment with engineering support. Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by Jan. 31, 2017.

The Griffin missile is a multi-platform, multi-service weapon with a proven track record for successful rapid integration on land, sea and air assets. The Griffin AGM-176A is an aft-eject missile designed for employment from platforms such as the C-130 aircraft. Griffin BGM-176B is a forward-firing missile that launches from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground-launch applications and maritime platforms. The weapon's flexible employment options of point detonate, delayed, and height of burst fuzing maximize user flexibility. The Griffin air vehicle is 43 inches long, weighs 33 pounds, utilizes a 13-pound warhead and is in production today.

The missile is smaller than the Hellfire typically used by armed UAVs, which reduces the potential for collateral damage. Three Griffins can be carried in place of one Hellfire. The Griffin missile and launch assembly is also lighter than the Hellfire, allowing more to be mounted on the Predator remotely piloted aircraft.

Compared to the former variants, the AGM-176B Block III adds an improved semi-active laser seeker, enhanced electronics and signal processing, and a new Multi-Effects Warhead System that works against a number of different target types.