Authorities Searching for Missing Missile Guidance Systems from Raytheon

Boston Business Journal ^ | September 13, 2005

[anymouse]

The FBI is searching for a trailer full of Raytheon Co. precision guidance systems used to test missiles, after the equipment was stolen Sunday.

KVOA of Tucson, Ariz., reported that a thief rammed through locked gates to gain access to the parking lot where the trailer was parked. Authorities say the rig contained only missile testing equipment, rather than missile parts.

Tucson police said the trailer and adjoining building are unmarked.

"It seems like it was an opportunistic crime where somebody could have seen the trailer and decided they wanted the trailer with no thought about what was inside it," KVOA quote Tucson Police Sgt. Mark Robinson saying. "It's purely testing equipment and it has no street value whatsoever. But it has value to Raytheon and they need it back."

In separate Raytheon news, the Waltham, Mass., company told Reuters it plans to bid on a $1.7 billion contract to produce bomb-guidance systems capable of hitting moving targets.

The contract was originally won by Boeing Co., Reuters reported, but the Government Accountability Office upheld a protest by Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md. The GAO ruled an Air Force official improperly took a job with Boeing after awarding billions of dollars in contracts to the Chicago company.

[Paloma_55]

--- In separate Raytheon news, the Waltham, Mass., company told Reuters it plans to bid on a $1.7 billion contract to produce bomb-guidance systems capable of hitting moving targets. ---

In another separate Ratheon news bulletin, the company also admitted "Yes, many government officials do travel in moving vehicles..why do you ask?"

[NeonKnight]

Tracking or guiding? These were the guidance systems according to the article.

Well, if they were guidance systems, they wouldn't be used strictly for testing. You have to remember that this article was written by a reporter who knows nothing about either.

As a side note, I actually used to work on missile guidance systems for Raytheon (Sea Sparrow)....about 20 years ago. I am still assuming that this trailer contained simple transponders, and perhaps some computer monitoring equipment.

[Blogger]

Hope you're right.

[Black Tooth]

That makes perfect sense. This guidance system test equipment would be worthless (well, it would be worth the value of the scrap metal) to anyone but Raytheon.

No one knows what was actually in this trailer, and the press basically only know what they are told. Did you note that they declined to say when it went missing? Could have been days or weeks ago. Not real easy to hide a trailer unless one doesn't want it found.

[txroadkill]

That would be a good guess, Raytheon's (E-Systems) company motto is "we can neither confirm or deny anything"

[konaice]

If you only knew how difficult it is to get these things to work (with the right people) you would be less worried.

Ask Saddham how well they work.

[Junior]

But since you have no additional evidence to go on, any conjecture on your part regarding the contents of the trailer is meaningless.

[Black Tooth]

Memo to folks on the west coast, move.

To where? Hurricane country?

[konaice]

I am still assuming that this trailer contained simple transponders,

Based on what?

The size of a missile transponder (even one from 20 years ago) is such that you can but 5 of them in your brief case. Why store them in a trailer?

[Blogger]

I hear from Mayor Nagin that Dallas is a good place.

[Black Tooth]

Ah, I'll pass on that.

[txhurl]

So you're saying I do not reserve the right to view this as worrisome.

Thanks, I'll worry as I see fit.

[discostu]

They didn't decline to say, this report just doesn't bother to mention it. Here's the report from the actual TV station being quoted:
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3841919&nav=HMO5eS3g

Stolen Sunday afternoon, trailer was unmarked and parked in an unadvertised lot of Raytheon's (no signs saying "Raytheon here"), equipment not classified, guidance for missiles in the test process.

Doesn't seem all that scary.

[Sacajaweau]

The article says it was stolen Sunday. Have a feeling the FBI let this tidbit out to alert truck drivers. They're pretty observant folks.

I'd look at my ex-employee list. I don't think Raytheon and that type of cargo was a "chance" hijacking.

[green iguana]

You don't think any other country has the technology to use it?

Doubtful. The equipment probably isn't worth anything even to a competitor. It is very system-specific stuff.

[Black Tooth]

Well, I guess your right. Nothing to see here.

[green iguana]

You steal the test equipment you steal the design of the system it was used to test

I see nothing in the article that says they got the design of the missile guidance system. And there is absolutely no way to reverse engineer a system based off of its test equipment. Not even in fantasy-land.

[Doe Eyes]

Ask Saddham how well they work.

Good point, not very well.

[discostu]

Unmarked trailer with unclassified generic missile test guidance system. Just not scary. Of course the doomsday worshiping paranoids find EVERYTHING scary, but that's not my problem.