Raytheon, an RTX business, has secured $676 million to continue manufacturing the tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided TOW weapon system for the U.S. Army. The award includes an annual production contract valued at $430 million for fiscal year 2023 and an additional $246 million for 2024.
“Our TOW production line is active, and we can manufacture up to 10,000 missiles annually,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land and Air Defence Systems at Raytheon. “This combat-proven effector is ready to meet current and future anti-tank guided missile requirements for the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and land forces across the globe.”
Raytheon is committed to enhancing the TOW system with modernized fuzing and target detection capabilities. Recent successful Fly-To-Buy lot acceptance tests for the latest TOW 2B variant have showcased these improvements.
The upgraded fuzing and target detection features provide warfighters with unmatched capabilities, ensuring the fastest target engagement times in its class. This allows the TOW system to excel in complex urban environments, effectively engaging a variety of targets while maintaining its primary anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) mission.
Additionally, enhancements to the missile’s overall design and packaging will help it meet the latest military environmental standards, addressing evolving logistical and terrain challenges. This milestone in testing guarantees that TOW users worldwide will have access to the most advanced and effective weapon systems for their deterrence and defence needs.
To date, Raytheon has delivered over 700,000 TOW weapon systems to U.S. and international armed forces. Since 2003, the TOW missile system has been employed in combat 11,000 times, and approximately 13,000 TOW missiles have been provided to Ukraine by the Department of Defence.
The TOW system is compatible with a range of manned and unmanned vehicles, including the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, Stryker anti-tank guided missile vehicle, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and various light armoured vehicles. Work under these contracts will be conducted in Tucson, Arizona.
