The U.S. Navy fired a tactical missile from a Raytheon SeaRAM missile launcher aboard an Independence variant littoral combat ship in an August 14 test.

The launcher was used on board the USS Coronado (LCS 4). During the live-fire test, the SeaRAM fired a Rolling Airframe Missile that successfully tracked, engaged and intercepted an inbound threat target.

Rick Nelson, vice president of the Naval Area and Mission Defense product line at Raytheon Missile Systems, hailed the test as a success.

"This test marks a major milestone toward full operation and employment of the SeaRAM system on U.S. Navy ships," Nelson said, "SeaRAM demonstrated that it is a vital weapon for defending navies against anti-ship cruise missiles, and provides warfighters with a capability found nowhere else."

In addition to a live-fire showcase of the SeaRAM launcher, the demonstration was also held to study risk reduction in future combat and certification exercises for the LCS.

Raytheon Company, a major defense contractor based in the United States, is the world's largest producer of guided missiles. It is the fifth-largest military contractor in the world, and the fourth-largest in the United States. The company grossed $23 billion in sales in 2014.