What systems is Raytheon offering the Indian Navy? The Indian Navy already has a number of Raytheon products on the Jalashwa ship, including the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System and the SLQ-32 electronic warfare system. We are in discussions about providing spare parts and upgrades to the Phalanx, which serves as the last line of defence on almost every US Navy ship. There are other possibilities for Raytheon to serve the Indian Navy including with ship-air defence systems such as the Rolling Airframe Missile and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and Standard Missile 2. Raytheon is also bidding on the Indian Navy’s Netcentric Operations program, for which Raytheon’s Athena system represents a viable solution. In September, the Indian Navy came to our facilities and conducted field tests. We believe this visit was quite successful. Is Raytheon looking at JVs and more MoUs with Indian defence industry? Raytheon is a global company, doing business in some 80 countries, with a distinct emphasis on establishing long-term lasting relationships. That is the goal in India as well. Our company has already signed numerous MoUs with Indian industry and continues to hold discussions with a broad range of public and private groups to further support the entire gamut of India’s defence and aerospace needs.
How do you assess the trajectory of growing Indo-US naval relationship? Indo-US naval relations are on an upward trajectory with a growing number of reciprocal visits, the transfer of Jalashwa and joint exercises. It makes sense for these two Navies to cooperate on naval and maritime matters and we expect to see this closeness continue.
At the recent Euronaval 2008, Raytheon showcased its non-line of sight launch system (NLOS) missile. What exactly is this and is there a possibility of exporting this in the near future? The Non-Line of Sight-Launch System — now under development by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin — will provide a networked, responsive and rapidly deployable precision strike capability against stationary and moving targets. NLOS-LS will provide precision fires for the US Army’s modular and future force, the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship and Special Operations forces. Raytheon is developing the Precision Attack Missile, while Lockheed Martin is developing the Container Launch Unit. The NLOS-LS team has just completed two successful guided flight tests. NLOS-LS is one of the first systems developed for the Army’s Future Combat System and is planned for initial fielding in 2011. It must be delivered to the US customer first. DoD will decide if NLOS-LS can be sold internationally, most likely through the Foreign Military Sales program.
You have been heading the Asian operations for more than a year. What is your assessment of the Asian market for naval equipment? The region encompasses a vast maritime environment that contains many key shipping lanes for a lot of the world’s industrial and energy needs. Therefore, the countries of the region have a strong need for naval equipment, especially as it pertains to maritime surveillance. Raytheon has done very well in the Asian naval market in recent years. We have longstanding relationships with the Navies of Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, having provided them with a variety of our electronic systems, sensors and weapons. For example, we have recently been awarded a contract to be the systems integrator for Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer. Earlier, we provided the combat system for their Collins Class Submarines. We continue to receive orders for the Standard Missile-2 from a variety of Navies throughout the region, and Japan is the first international customer for the SM-3 BMD Interceptor. India is a new market for us and we would hope that our relationship with the Indian Navy will mature as it has with these other navies.
