FULLERTON, Calif., Nov. 1, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force
Battle Control System (BCS) program was recently declared operational in
Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. Two other BCS sites, New York and Washington
state, are partially operational and are expected to be totally operational
early next year.
BCS is a next-generation air sovereignty command and control system
operated by NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), U.S. Northern
Command and Pacific Command. The BCS mission "controls the skies" over the
continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, serving as the early warning
mechanism in the vital U.S. homeland defense mission. Alaska, Hawaii and
Canada are the first of five BCS sites to declare an operational
capability.
As prime contractor, ThalesRaytheonSystems is providing advanced
technology that features increased sensor capacity while improving
interoperability among hundreds of legacy sensors, including more types of
radars than any other Air Force system. The system correlates and fuses
data from airborne, ground, naval and civil air traffic sensors into an
integrated air picture that allows commanders to monitor the airspace
above, beyond and within the U.S. and Canadian borders.
"The Battle Control System plays a vital role in the defense of the
U.S. and Canada," said Kim Kerry, chief executive officer,
ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations. "ThalesRaytheonSystems is committed
to working closely with our U.S. and Canadian Air Force customers to keep
BCS on the leading edge of technology and to maintain a record of executing
this program within budget."
ThalesRaytheonSystems is an equally owned transatlantic joint venture
between Raytheon Company and Thales Group. ThalesRaytheonSystems is a
worldwide supplier of air defense command and control centers and
ground-based radars. The company's annual revenue is $700 million and it
employs 1,400 people.
Note to Editors:
The BCS is being continually upgraded through a spiral development
process. Spiral development is a valuable acquisition strategy where there
is a need for rapid development, integration of commercial off-the-shelf
equipment, integration of rapidly evolving technologies and product line
management. The spiral development approach will ensure that the Battle
Control System program remains reliable, affordable and technically viable
well into the 21st Century.
Contact:
In the United States: In Europe:
Vicki Boatman Matt Pothecary
714-446-4600 +33.1.69.75.50.98
SOURCE ThalesRaytheonSystems
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
United States: Vicki Boatman,
+1-714-446-4600, or Europe: Matt Pothecary, +33.1.69.75.50.98,
both for ThalesRaytheonSystems
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