MCKINNEY, Texas, Oct. 4, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE:
RTN) has been awarded a $285.4 million contract to produce and deliver
Improved Target Acquisition Systems (ITAS) to the U.S. Army and the U.S.
Marine Corps. The five-year contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and
Missile Command in Huntsville, Ala., continues Army procurement of the
systems and marks the start of the U.S. Marine Corps system acquisition.
The Army procured 709 ITAS units from 1999 through 2004.
ITAS is the advanced Electro-Optic Target Acquisition Fire Control
System. It guides the TOW (Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided)
weapon systems to their targets with surgical precision. The targeting
system significantly increases TOW's effective range, improves the weapon's
ability to hit a target with minimal collateral damage and allows a soldier
to engage and destroy targets from safe distances. ITAS's 2nd generation
FLIR (forward-looking infrared) sensor provides long-range reconnaissance
and surveillance capability 24/7, in all weather and battlefield
conditions.
ITAS is fielded in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom, where it has demonstrated its value in all phases of the conflict
and subsequent peace-keeping efforts.
Raytheon Network Centric Systems Vice President of Combat Systems Glynn
Raymer said, "Early on, soldiers used ITAS in its traditional role, but
they soon discovered innovative uses for the system. For instance, using
ITAS as a precision-guidance system allowed our troops to engage insurgents
in the urban fight without collateral damage to nearby homes, shrines and
cultural landmarks."
Raymer also noted that planned product improvements will incorporate
the Far Target Location capability, which automatically determines target
location and shows the troop location to give complete situational
awareness. Incorporation of a network radio would allow transmission of
this information to networked systems on the battlefield.
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:
* This contract was initially announced by the Department of Defense on
Sept. 14, 2006.
* ITAS is designed and produced by Raytheon Network Centric Systems in
McKinney and Dallas, Texas, where approximately 120 people support the
program. Fifteen additional Raytheon employees produce ITAS components
in El Segundo and Santa Barbara, Calif., Largo, Fla., and Midland,
Ontario, Canada.
* Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Army's modularity initiative drove the
decision to reinstate ITAS as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team component.
Additional funds were received in the 2005 supplemental request. This
award is part of the 2006 supplemental request.
* The initial purchases for this contract are valued at $285.4M million,
including 623 ITAS and 33 spare sets: 438 are for the Marines, 218 are
for the Army. Under the five-year option, the Army may purchase up to
1,600 additional units, valued at more than $750 million. The total
five-year contract with options is valued at $1.1 billion.
* Second-generation FLIR has been fielded since 2000. This leap in
technology provides soldiers significantly improved long-range
reconnaissance and surveillance capability 24/7 in all weather and
battlefield conditions.
Contact:
Maribeth Welch
727.424.7788
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com/
CONTACT:
Maribeth Welch of Raytheon, +1-727-424-7788
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