Raytheon to tackle satellite upgrade

Raytheon Co. will upgrade a satellite communications system that provides protected communications to warfighters worldwide under a new Air Force contract that could be worth more than $75 million.

Raytheon of Waltham, Mass., will develop and produce the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network program. Raytheon began work on the current Minuteman program for the Air Force in 1999 as part of a study contract.

As part of the contract, Raytheon Network Centric Systems will develop, deliver and support a satellite communications system of ground-based communication terminals.

The Air Force expects to field the terminals for operational test and evaluation in late 2009. The solution fits with the Department of Defense's plans to have its advanced extremely high-frequency satellite constellation in operation in 2010.

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