US Army, Raytheon achieve first inflight lethal intercept of low quadrant elevation rocket

Raytheon Company successfully intercepted and destroyed a low quadrant elevation (QE) 107mm rocket as part of the second series of guided test vehicle (GTV) flight tests of the Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative (AI3) program. The intercept is a major test milestone before the U.S. Army live-fire engagements begin in September.

"Beginning only 18 months and one week ago, and with firm cost requirements, the AI3 interceptor project successfully engaged and destroyed an inflight rocket on a challenging, high-speed flight profile greatly enhancing the range of existing capabilities," said Michael Van Rassen, the U.S. Army's Project Director for Counter Rockets, Artillery and Mortars (C-RAM) and AI3.

"The project used a system of systems approach that lowered risk and enabled an accelerated schedule by leveraging existing government components and off the shelf subsystems to expand the footprint of the protected area for our warfighters."

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