Chemring and Raytheon Launch Naval Defence System

20/02/2013by Paul Fiddian - Armed Forces International's Lead Reporter

The current IDEX 2013 defence event in Abu Dhabi has already seen some major new arms deals signed but it's also providing the launchpad for several new military technologies. One such product is a joint effort from Raytheon Missile Systems and Chemring: a new, as yet-unnamed naval defence system based on Chemring's Centurion launcher.

This system will link up the Centurion with several of Raytheon's combat-proven missiles including - potentially - the Javelin, TOW and Griffin designs.

Right now, the two companies are integrating their technologies, pending upcoming firing trials in months ahead. At least two different types of missiles will be launched during these trials, to give the system a wide-ranging capability, the companies said.

New Naval Defence System

"This initiative combines Chemring's innovative multi-mission launcher, Centurion, with a variety of Raytheon's combat-tested missiles to provide a sea-based, inside-the-horizon defensive system", explained Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval and Area Mission Defense vice president, Rick Nelson, in a statement on the new naval defence system.

"Our Raytheon-Chemring team will combine a multifunction decoy and missile launcher with world-class missiles and existing ship systems to provide a new mission capability to meet our customers' specific self-defense needs."

"Our shared goal is to generate a low-cost, effective and versatile solution to increase naval platform protection", added Chemring's chief executive, Mark Papworth. "Thanks to a layered-defense approach, capitalizing on the versatility of the Centurion launcher and Raytheon's missiles, users will have a multi-mission capability using a single-launch platform."

Chemring Centurion Launcher

Chemring's Centurion launcher features 12, vertically-positioned barrels set within a rotating platform. These accept 130mm calibre weapons as standard but, with modifications, other-calibre arms can also be accommodated. Its developers state that the Centurion advances present-day ship-based electronic warfare capabilities and, while optimised to counter surface threats, it could also potentially be used against longer-range targets.

Furthermore, according to company representatives, the Middle East could be a key sales market for this new naval defence system, given the tendency of its region's navies to operate smaller-size ships and the range of threats posed to naval forces operating in this part of the world