Defense contractor Raytheon Co. has two new contracts from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command concerning the Patriot surface-to-air missile system. Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems, and system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
The larger contract is a $58.3-million award for Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical, or GEM-T, missiles. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., named Raytheon to upgrade 131 Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles to the GEM-T configuration. It continues a series of contracts initiated in 2000 to refresh Patriot missile technology.
The Patriot GEM-T missile upgrade involves installing some components that increase reliability and extend a missile’s service life. GEM-T upgrades are performed at Raytheon's Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass., in an ongoing program.
"These continuing upgrades speak to the critical role Patriot plays in our 12 partner nations' air and missile defense capabilities," stated Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This cost-effective alternative makes it possible for them to increase their air and missile defense capabilities, using existing Patriot systems."
Secondly, Raytheon earned a $15.7-million contract to provide material and technical services for the Patriot Missile Field Surveillance Program. This assignment from AIMCOM follows an earlier, three-year contract and will see Raytheon continue to support manufacturing, assembly, and testing of Patriot missiles through 2013.
"This work supports all Patriot customers, U.S. and our 11 international partners, who have selected the combat-proven Patriot as the foundation of their air and missile defense strategy," according to Kapoor.
Work for this contract will be performed at Raytheon’s Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass.; at IDS Headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass.; at Raytheon Technical Services Company, Burlington, Mass., and at Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, Pa.
