Raytheon gets Army sensor orders

Raytheon Co. has received two Army orders worth $17.2 million to build and supply 18 common sensor payloads.

The award follows a November $11 million contract that included options worth up to $1.2 billion.

Raytheon is developing the advanced sensor for the warfighter and Army air-ground teams to provide tactical reconnaissance, surveillance and mission targeting support, said Tim Carey, vice president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems. "We are still relatively early in the Army Common Sensor Payload program," he said.

Raytheon is using the common technology gained as the prime sensor payload provider for the Army's Extended Range Multi-Purpose unmanned aerial system. The common sensor payload eventually will be installed on long-range unmanned and manned aircraft.

Production of the payload at Raytheon in McKinney, Texas, could reach as many as 875 units, the company said.

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