Military Embedded Systems

First missile launched from V-22 during tests by Raytheon, Bell Helicopter

News

December 16, 2014

John McHale

Editorial Director

Military Embedded Systems

TUCSON, Ariz. Raytheon and Bell Helicopter personnel completed the first two launches of the Griffin B missile from a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

"This is the first time a forward-firing missile has been launched from the V-22," says Mike Jarrett, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems. Raytheon and Bell's Xworx funded the effort, which has a goal to simply integrate and operate, low-cost, precision strike missile, which is showing interest from the the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, Raytheon officials say.

Bell flight test crew personnel launched two Griffin B missiles with each scoring direct hits from both hover mode and during conversion mode at 110 knots. The missile's off-axis launch capability enables precise striking of targets to the left or right of the aircraft flight path.

The Griffin A (AGM-176A) is an aft-eject missile produced for employment from platforms such as the C-130 aircraft. The Griffin B (BGM-176B) is a forward-firing missile that can launch from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground-launch applications, and maritime platforms. The missile is 43 inches long, weighs 33 pounds, has a 13-pound warhead, and is in production today. Grif

 

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