Raytheon wins US Army TOW contract
Raytheon will provide heavy anti-tank, wireless precision-assault missiles to the US armed forces under a $349 million five-year, multi-year contract announced on 8 October.
The contract will see Raytheon deliver 6,676 of the new wireless TOW missiles to the US Army. TOW missiles are tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided missiles that receive commands from the gunner through a wireless guidance link, eliminating the wire connection in early generations of the missile.
According to the company, with the wireless system built into the missile and the missile case, the next-generation TOW works with existing launch platforms, including the Improved Target Acquisition System, Improved Bradley Acquisition System, TOW2 Subsystem and M220 Ground TOW. The system performs exactly like the wire-guided version, ‘enabling soldiers and marines to continue using the proven weapon without changing tactics or incurring additional training’.
Scott Speet, Raytheon Missile Systems' TOW program director, said: ‘TOW remains the US Army and Marine Corps' primary heavy anti-tank and precision-assault weapon. It is currently deployed on more than 4,000 TOW launch platforms including the army Stryker, Bradley Fighting Vehicle System and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.’
TOW is in service in more than 40 international armed forces and integrated on more than 15,000 ground, vehicle and helicopter platforms worldwide, according to Raytheon. The TOW weapon system is expected to be in service with the US military beyond 2025.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles]()
Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.
-
![Rheinmetall and KNDS tank tie-up narrows trans-European options]()
Rheinmetall and KNDS tank tie-up narrows trans-European options
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.
-
![Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions]()
Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions
Developed by Israel's Uvision and with systems being sold in the thousands to multiple European NATO countries and the US, the Hero family of loitering systems is also in production in the US and Italy, the latter through Rheinmetall.
-
![Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)]()
Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)
A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.
