Senior Officers from the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces toured the world’s largest missile making facility in Tucson, Arizona, to learn more about Raytheon’s Rolling Airframe Missile’s (RAM) capabilities and to see its manufacturing in person.

The visit took place in January 2016 and also included a trip to the U.S. Navy’s RAM program office in Crystal City, Virginia, where the visitors received in-depth briefings on the missile’s classified capabilities.

RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon designed to destroy anti-ship missiles. Its autonomous dual-mode passive radio frequency and infrared guidance design allow it to simultaneously defend against anti-ship missiles, helicopters, aircraft and surface craft.

“We’re very interested in building our allies’ capabilities to defend their naval assets,” said Alan Davis, RAM Program Director. “We also want to expand our partnership with the Qataris, and this was a great opportunity to build on that relationship.”

RAM is cooperatively developed in partnership between the United States and Germany and deployed on more than 165 ships in eight countries around the world.

Earlier this year the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon a $143 million for Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 guided missiles, the latest version of the interceptor.

RAM Block 2 has a larger, more powerful rocket motor and advanced control section, making it two and a half times more maneuverable with one and a half times the effective intercept range.

Photo: Colonel Mohammed Bu-Hazzaa (Qatar Navy), Jeff Meyer (Raytheon), Jerry Carter (Raytheon), Mark Lindorff (Raytheon), Brigadier General Abdulla Al-Mazroey (Qatar Navy), Alan Davis (Raytheon, RAM Program Director), Colonel Jassim Hussain (Qatar Navy), Lt. Colonel Jaralla Al-Nabit (Qatar Navy), Lt. Colonel Salem Almarri (Qatar Navy), Colonel Mohamed Al-Dosari (Qatar Navy).