Egypt Buys Raytheon’s RAM Block 2 Missiles

Raytheon has won a contract worth approximately $113 million to provide RAM Block 2 missiles to Egypt.

“Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded an $112,690,243 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract to perform Navy transition to production efforts for RAM Block 2B and exercise options for fiscal 2021 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Egypt for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 guided-missile round pack (GMRP),” a U.S. DoD release today said.

RIM‑116C Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM)

Raytheon’s supersonic, lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon, the RAM system, is designed to destroy anti-ship missiles. It's currently deployed on more than 165 ships in 11 countries, ranging from 500-ton fast attack craft to 95,000-ton aircraft carriers. Requiring no additional direction upon launch, its passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design provide firepower to engage multiple threats simultaneously.

RAM Block 2 missile

The Block 2 variant, the latest evolution in the development of the RAM missile, has a larger rocket motor, advanced control section and an enhanced RF receiver capable of detecting the quietest of threat emitters. The improvements make the missile two and a half times more maneuverable, with one and a half times the effective intercept range.

Launching system

The MK 44 guided missile round pack and the MK 49 guided missile launching system, which hold 21 missiles, comprise the MK 31 guided missile weapon system. The system is designed to be easily integrated into many different ships. A variety of existing ship sensors can readily provide the target and pointing information required to engage the anti-ship threat.

The MK 44 missile is also used in the SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system, replacing the M601A1 Gatling gun in the Phalanx close-in weapon system with an 11-round launcher. The Phalanx system’s sensor suite and internal combat management system reduces dependency on the ship’s combat system and enables a fast reaction to stressing anti-ship missiles. The RAM Block 2 missile has been successfully fired from a SeaRAM system.