Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy completed a new round of successful Excalibur® N5 munition test firings. The precision-guided projectiles demonstrated various short-, mid- and long-range capabilities.

Designed to be fired from the Navy’s five-inch guns, Excalibur N5 is the sea-based variant of the revolutionary, extended-range, precision munition used by ground forces around the globe. The Excalibur weapon provides accurate, first-round effects at all ranges in all weather conditions.

“Excalibur N5 answers the Navy’s need for a sea-launched, precision-guided projectile. N5 doubles the range of the Navy's big guns and delivers the same accuracy as the land-based version,” said Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems Vice President.

Excalibur is a true precision weapon, impacting at a radial miss distance of less than two meters from the target. Widely used by U.S. and international artillery forces, Excalibur has been fired more than 1,400 times in combat. The precision-guided projectile was co-developed by Raytheon Company and BAE Systems Bofors.

Besides N5, Raytheon has developed other variants such as the laser-guided Excalibur S, Excalibur HTK and Excalibur Shaped Charged Trajectory.

Raytheon also announced it successfully tested a hot fire rocket motor for DARPA’s Multi-Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round Engagement System, or MAD-FIRES.

The MAD-FIRES interceptor is designed to provide a robust and affordable self-defense capability that defeats multiple waves of anti-ship missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as other threats.

“The Navy is asking for leading-edge capabilities that can take out rapidly approaching targets, and Raytheon's interceptor for the MAD-FIRES program will deliver. This test shows Raytheon is right on track to provide an affordable, advanced technology to the fleet,” said Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems Vice President.

If fielded, this capability will combine the speed, rapid fire and depth of a gun weapon system with the precision and accuracy of guided missiles. 

Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions.

With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I^® products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.

Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.