INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 4, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technical Services
Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been
awarded a $5.6 million contract by the U.S. Navy to conduct the Shared
Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) Target Cuing System (TCS) program. The enhanced
capability provided through this effort will significantly increase the
mission effectiveness of the SHARP system and reduce the workload of image
analysts.
SHARP provides U.S. Navy carrier-based air wings with high-resolution,
digital tactical air reconnaissance that features advanced day/night and
all-weather capability. With the TCS upgrade, the system's tactical imaging
sensor will deliver more refined information to the image analyst. By
reducing the amount of manual labor required of the analyst to make
identifications, specific targets can be more quickly located and action
taken.
Under the contract, RTSC will manage all aspects of the TCS program,
including selection and acquisition of the sensors, design integration,
manufacture of an upgraded pod design, and coordination of flight testing
for the system on an F/A-18E/F aircraft. The principal work will be
performed at RTSC's Indianapolis facility, with support from the Naval Air
Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, and the Space Dynamics
Laboratory in Logan, Utah. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River,
Md., is the contracting activity.
"Over the life of the SHARP program, Raytheon's responsibilities have
evolved to becoming the sole-source producer of the SHARP pod and the
integrator of the SHARP system," said John Balaguer, RTSC vice president
and general manager of RTSC's Indianapolis-based business unit. "Increasing
that role to include the management of the TCS program enables Raytheon to
further focus on ensuring F/A-18E/F mission success through the enhanced
capabilities that will result from this SHARP upgrade. We will continue to
work with the Navy and the SHARP team to proactively provide additional
capability and advanced solutions that will ensure the system is prepared
to meet the challenges of the future."
RTSC provides technology solutions for defense, federal and commercial
customers worldwide. It specializes in Mission Support,
counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, base and range operations and
customized engineering services. Mission Support-Raytheon's integrated
approach to providing total life-cycle support, predicting customer needs,
sensing problems and proactively applying solutions-enables Raytheon to
maintain readiness and deliver operational capability on demand, enhancing
customer mission success.
Raytheon Company, with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry
leader in defense and government electronics, space, information
technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people
worldwide.
Note to Editors: Additional Information
SHARP replaces the current Carrier Air Wing tactical reconnaissance
capability provided by the film-based F-14 TARPS (Tactical Air
Reconnaissance Pod System). Fleet introduction of the SHARP system on the
F/A-18F Super Hornet began with early operational capability on the USS
Nimitz (CVN 68) in 2003. Recently, the pod has been successfully flown as
part of a rapid-deployment initiative in support of fielded operations.
The RTSC-designed pod incorporates a rotating mid-section to optimize
coverage, to protect the window by allowing stowage under the strongback,
and to reduce the size and life-cycle expense of large fixed windows. The
pod's design also provides mobility -- it mounts on a bomb rack like a
smart weapon -- allowing for more flexibility in reconnaissance mission
planning. Although the initial systems employ electro-optical/infrared
sensors for use on the F/A-18E/F aircraft, the pod design is readily
adaptable to many sensor payloads on a wide range of aircraft.
Contact:
John Clemons
703.295.2530
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
John Clemons of Raytheon, +1-703-295-2530
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