Raytheon throttles up for Navy work

Raytheon Co. will produce a ship self defense system and a missile sensor for the Navy under two contracts totaling $162.3 million.

The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Raytheon a $16.9 million contract to equip multiple surface ships with the Ship Self Defense System Mk 2, an open architecture system. The system provides the Navy with its first line of defense with its detect-to-engage capability.

The open architecture design gives it flexibility that is in line with the Navy's vision for a common, interoperable allied fleet.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems will produce the equipment to be integrated onboard three different U.S. Navy platforms: the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio, aircraft carrier Nimitz and the amphibious assault ship Tarawa.

The system recently completed one of a series of developmental and operational tests as part of a Ship Self Defense exercise for the amphibious transport dock ship class. Early results indicate that other classes performed well, successfully tracking and eliminating a stream of in-coming targets.

Work on the contract will be a cooperative effort between employees at IDS' Maritime Mission Center, Portsmouth, R.I., and the Expeditionary Warfare Center, San Diego, Calif.

Raytheon Missile Systems was awarded a $145.4 million to produce and enhance the Navy's Rolling Airframe Missile program.

The Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 is a kinematic and sensor upgrade to the company's Rolling Airframe Missile Block 1. The Rolling Airframe Missile is a modern ship self-defense weapon, designed to provide exceptional protection for ships of all sizes. It increases the effective range and maneuverability via a larger dual-thrust rocket motor and independent control actuator system.

Raytheon of Waltham, Mass., ranks No. 6 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.