Tucson’s Raytheon unit awarded multiple contracts

ARIZONA DAILY STAR
December 2011/January 2012

Tucson Raytheon unit wins $213M in contracts for ship-defense missile
January 11, 2012

Tucson Raytheon Missile SystemsTucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded two contracts totaling $212.8 million for the production of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile, with an option for $33 million in additional work on the ship defense system.

The first contract from the U.S. Navy NATO Seasparrow Project Office, as previously announced by the Pentagon, is for the production of the missile system through fiscal year 2014 and includes an option for further production. The agreement also provides NATO consortium-member navies with miscellaneous spare parts, containers and test equipment.

The second contract is a two-year direct commercial sale. Raytheon will provide Mitsubishi Electric Corp. of Japan the components and assemblies necessary to manufacture and deliver the  weapons to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Licensed production will take place at Mitsubishi’s facility in Japan.

The Evolved Seasparrow Missile system is designed to defend ships against high-speed, maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles as well as surface and low-velocity air threats. Consortium countries include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey and the United States. Japan and the United Arab Emirates also buy the system.

Source: http://bit.ly/xOh2pQ

Raytheon gets $45 million contract for ship-defense weapons
December 29, 2011

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $45.6 million contract for engineering and technical-support services for three ship-defense systems.

The contract is for work on the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, a land-based version of the Phalanx and the SeaRAM, a small missile system based on the Phalanx.

The Phalanx is a rapid-fire gun system designed to track and destroy anti-ship missiles and other threats that have penetrated all other defenses. The SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defense System is based on the Phalanx carriage but fires small missiles used on Raytheon’s Rolling Airframe Missile system.

Management and engineering for the Phalanx is based in Tucson. The system is made at Raytheon Missile Systems’ plant in Louisville, Ky.

Source: http://bit.ly/xCCkLk

Raytheon gets $122.5 million contract for interceptor work

December 27, 2011

Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has received a $122.5 million contract modification from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for continued development of the Standard Missile-3 Block IA and IB interceptors.

The SM-3 Block IA is deployed in support of the first phase of the administration’s Phased Adaptive Approach for ballistic missile defense of Europe.

The SM-3 Block IB, still under development, has an enhanced kinetic warhead seeker, an advanced flight-control system and advanced signal processing. The SM-3 Block IB is on track for a 2015 deployment at sea and on land, Raytheon said.

Under the contract, Raytheon will provide SM-3 Block IA and IB design and engineering, in-service engineering support, production engineering, surveillance and flight test support, and transition to production.

The award follows a $241 million contract modification the MDA awarded to Raytheon earlier this month for work on the SM-3 Block IIA, which is being co-developed with Japan.

The SM-3 Block IIA features a larger rocket motor and an advanced kinetic warhead to defend a greater area.

Source: http://bit.ly/xCCkLk

Raytheon wins $241 million contract for missile interceptor
December 12, 2011

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems a $241 million contract modification for continued engineering design and development work on the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA system.

The SM-3 Block IIA is a join development effort between the U.S. and Japan and a key part of phase three of the Obama administration’s Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense.

The SM-3 Block IIA’s larger rocket motors and advanced kinetic warhead will allow for a greater area defended against ballistic missiles, the company said.

SM-3 is being developed as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. The missiles are deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the midcourse phase of flight.

Read more: http://bit.ly/AhWTXi

Photo credit: defpro.com