Raytheon gets set for US rocket cargo missions
Raytheon BBN will develop mission planning and C2 concepts for rocket cargo applications. (Photo: US DoD)
Under the US Air Force's 2030 Science & Technology Strategy, Raytheon will develop rocket cargo mission planning and C2 systems.
The USAF has awarded Raytheon BBN, a subsidiary of Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a contract to develop rocket cargo mission planning and C2 systems.
The contract, announced on 17 January, has a potential value of $8.7 million over four years and is part of the air force's 2030 Science & Technology Strategy’s transformational science and technology portfolio.
During an initial 30-month period, Raytheon BBN will develop mission planning and C2 concepts, identify and develop initial rocket cargo workflows and processes and will design human-machine interfaces based on cognitive engineering.
Related Articles
Technodinamika develops satellite-guided cargo parachute
How cargo containers for UAVs can improve resupply capabilities
Northrop Grumman to fulfil full GMLRS rocket motor production
The company will also identify coordination points across mission-planning and C2 stakeholders and propose solutions to address gaps in knowledge, organisations and processes.
‘The tool we create must enable the air force to plan, coordinate and conduct a rocket cargo mission within hours,’ said Beth DePass, Raytheon BBN principal investigator for the project, in a statement.
‘At its core, this is a logistics challenge of epic proportions. Although the cargo would initially be pre-packaged and stored at the launch site for rapid loading, there are still tremendous challenges with how the DoD will safely load, launch, and deliver under very tight timing constraints,’ she continued.
‘We will be taking into consideration pre-flight testing, weather conditions, launch approvals, and many other variables, to deliver that cargo precisely where it’s needed, when it’s needed, faster than current delivery methods. We will iterate with multiple DoD stakeholders, the air force, and the space force to ensure we have the best solution to one of their greatest challenges.’
More from Air Warfare
-
![Germany acquires additional 20 H145M helicopters]()
Germany acquires additional 20 H145M helicopters
The order for the extra helicopters comes from an agreement penned in December 2023, with the German Army receiving the bulk of the platforms.
-
![Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace collaborate on British Army ACP bid]()
Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace collaborate on British Army ACP bid
The pair will submit their demonstrator concept for Project Nyx, a development project for the British Army’s Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform.
-
![US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress]()
US Army command’s Picatinny CLIK common lethal drone interface makes progress
The Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit is designed to overcome the issue of unique integration methods between lethal payloads and drones as well as avoiding problematic acquisition conditions created by vendor lock.
-
![Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test]()
Australia invests extra A$1.4 billion in MQ-28A Ghost Bat after successful missile fire test
The investment includes new contracts for six MQ-28A Ghost Bat aircraft, as well as provisional funds to invest in the development of a Block 3 prototype.
-
![US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy]()
US approves potential $4.7 billion missile and air defence system sales to Denmark and Italy
Italy could field the JASSM-ER for its combat aircraft including the F-35, while Denmark has been approved for AMRAAM and an Integrated Battle Command system procurement.
-
![Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026]()
Northrop Grumman to fly new Project Talon CCA by late 2026
The newly unveiled collaborative combat aircraft looks to strike a balance between capability and cost-effectiveness, according to the company.
