Raytheon has produced and delivered its 2,000th Griffin Missile. Griffin production began in 2008 as a response to customer requests for a light, reliable, tactical weapon capable of precisely destroying targets with limited collateral damage. The production milestone also highlights 70 consecutive months of on-time or early Griffin deliveries to the warfighter.

"The Griffin Missile has proven to be an effective way of doing business for Special Operations forces. The capability has steadily improved, where effectiveness and reliability rule the day," said U.S. Air Force 1st. Lt. Ben Marshall, Stand-off Precision Guided Munitions program manager at Detachment 1, SOCOM.

"Delivering 2,000 missiles at a very high reliability is no small feat, and allows our quiet professionals to get the job done."

Raytheon developed Griffin at company expense to provide the warfighter with a quick reaction capability. Demand for the missile continues to increase.

The 2000th missile is the Griffin Block III configuration that features a new seeker for improved targeting performance and a multi-effects warhead system that increases the missile's operational effectiveness. Griffin Block III recently completed successful operational test and should be fielded with operational units in the coming months.

"The Griffin program remains true to its quick reaction heritage of rapidly developing and delivering affordable missiles that meet the warfighter's needs," said Steve Dickman, Griffin program director.

"This milestone highlights the highly collaborative partnership that exists between the company and its multiple service customers."

Griffin is a multi-platform, multi-service weapon that has a proven track record for successful rapid integration on land, sea and air assets. The combat-proven Griffin AGM-176A is an aft-eject missile designed for employment from platforms such as the C-130 aircraft.

The Griffin BGM-176B is a forward-firing missile that launches from rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft, ground-launch applications and maritime platforms. The Griffin missile is 43 inches long, weighs 33 pounds, has a 13-pound warhead, and is integrated on Air Force AC-130W Stinger II, USMC KC-130J Harvest Hawk, and USN Cyclone-class Patrol Coastal platforms.