TEWKSBURY, Mass., May 6, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a new contract to continue "Pure Fleet" upgrades of U.S. Army Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems.

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command contract provides $115 million to upgrade four additional U.S. Army Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems to Configuration-3 status. The upgrades involve enhancements to Patriot system ground components, particularly the radar.

The contract option supports a "Grow the Army" initiative of equipping an additional Patriot battalion with a state-of-the-art Configuration-3 Patriot system.

"This contract is significant for two reasons," said Joseph "Skip" Garrett, vice president and deputy for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "Continuing Pure Fleet upgrades ensures our warfighters have the latest and best technology to meet evolving threats.

"Equipping a new Patriot battalion with a Configuration-3 system provides the Army with additional capability and flexibility to meet air defense requirements wherever needed," Garrett said. "Both the upgrades and the addition of a new Configuration-3 battalion are extremely important."

Raytheon IDS is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and systems integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

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SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/

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