U.S. Navy grants IOC status to missile variant: The new variant of a U.S.-German developed missile for defeating anti-ship cruise missiles has gained Initial Operational Capability with the U.S. Navy.
The Block II Rolling Airframe Missile features improved kinematic performance in maneuverability and range, as well as a more sophisticated radio frequency receiver. It received IOC status after its latest U.S. Navy tests in the Pacific aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington.
"We're very excited about the significantly increased capability Block 2 gives our warfighters," said Capt. Craig Bowden, RAM program manager. "It could not have been done without the outstanding cooperation between the U.S. and German governments. This program has become the hallmark of trans-Atlantic cooperation."
RAM is a small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile, which came about from a 1970sm U.S. German Cooperative agreement. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon and Diehl BGT Defense.
The U.S. Navy IOC declaration for the Block II RAM comes after two years of joint development and operational testing by the U.S. Navy and the German government.
