Air Force awarded Raytheon $4.8 million to resume work on a non-explosive, counter-electronic missile, according to the company’s March 23 release. The Counter-electronics High-power Microwave Advanced Missile Project, known as CHAMP, uses a high-powered-microwave-emitting payload to knock out electronic and data systems. “Non-kinetic systems give the US the option to defeat enemy infrastructure with little collateral damage,” said Thomas Bussing, vice president of Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems, in the release. As part of the deal, Raytheon will refurbish the CHAMP payload and a pair of delivering Conventional Air-Launched Cruise missiles and deliver them to the Air Force Research Laboratory. “This is the first major CHAMP activity since the AFRL successfully demonstrated the technology in October 2012,” states the release. (See also JASSM Eyed for Multiple New Modes and You Gotta Build them.)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
