Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a lightweight, quick-reaction, high-power weapon system designed to provide anti-ship missile defense. The system (Figure 2-10) was co-developed and co-produced under a NATO cooperative program between the U.S. and German governments, their respective national weapon system acquisition oversight organizations, and their respective national industries.

Various agreements govern the RAM program at all levels. At the government level, the program operates under a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). A steering committee, consisting of high-level representatives from each government, is responsible for implementing the MOU. At the industry level, Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) and RAMSYS (the German consortium of involved companies) work together under a Cooperative Program Agreement (CPA). The actual procurement for the system is run by RAMPO, a joint program office with representatives from each government and their respective defense acquisition oversight organizations. This successful multi-level cooperation between the United States and Germany enabled the RAM program to become a reality.

The CPA between RMSC and RAMSYS is a long-term arrangement that calls for a 50-50 split on all buys, with the procuring government’s supplier designated as prime. Key missile technologies are dual sourced, so both national industries retain the ability to integrate the final deliverable. Non-critical items may be sole sourced. Manufacturing integration exists at all assembly levels. Some assemblies are built 100% by one partner, while others are done as a 50-50 venture. Workshare for any required development is proportionate, and an agreement is employed for joint marketing and third-party sales. A common design agent, as well as a common technical data package, are used to resolve production problems and the joint procurement of common parts. Electronic data exchange is key to the successful operation of the entire program.

While the establishment of a joint international program can be complicated and expensive, the advantages are tremendous. Only the successful partnering between the United States and Germany empowered the RAM program’s development, since neither country could have justified the independent development, production, and fielding of the system at the expected procurement levels and rates. The joint program enabled the RAM contracts, implemented under the CPA, to be accomplished on time and within budget, and resulted in the delivery of an effective and affordable weapon system. RAM’s effectiveness has been demonstrated by the flight success of 106 hits out of 111 firings since the start of production. In addition, this collaboration has been a model for the 13- country industrial consortium that is producing and deploying the ESSM program.

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