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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Raytheon
 
 
Raytheon lands a $25 mn USAF contract for Griffin A Block III missiles
 
The US-based missile manufacturer Raytheon has been awarded a $24,993,572 contract from the US Air Force for the delivery of Griffin A Block III precision-guided missiles, the US Department of Defense announced on Dec. 2, 2016.
     
Raytheon lands a 25 mn USAF contract for Griffin A Block III  missiles 640 001Raytheon's Griffin A Block III precision-guided missile
(Credit: Raytheon)
     
"Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 1, 2017. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity," the US DoD Stated.

The AGM-176 Griffin is a lightweight, precision-guided munition developed by Raytheon. The Block III upgrade includes an improved semi-active laser seeker with better electronics and signal processing and a new Multi-Effects Warhead System to maximize lethality against different targets


The Griffin is smaller than the Hellfire typically used by armed UAVs, which reduces the potential for collateral damage. Three Griffins can be carried in place of one Hellfire. The Griffin missile and launch assembly is also lighter than the Hellfire, allowing more to be mounted on the Predator remotely piloted aircraft.

The missile has been developed in two variants, namely the AGM-176A Griffin, an aft-eject missile intended for employment from C-130 Hercules aircraft, and a forward-firing Griffin BGM-176B missile that launches from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground-launch applications and maritime platforms.