TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 27, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $23 million U.S. Army contract extension to provide mission support and system sustainment for the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment systems that protect U.S. and coalition forces deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"This additional mission and sustainment support will further improve RAID's capability as a multifunctional battlefield system, providing enhanced situational awareness to the warfighter," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president of National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This award enables Raytheon to continue providing unparalleled support to our warfighters and reinforces an unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest operational readiness."

Raytheon first developed RAID to meet the military's increasingly critical need for persistent surveillance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RAID consists of infrared sensor systems elevated on a stationary platform. This capability enables U.S. and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threatening situations.

Work will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass., and at Warfighter Protection Center, Huntsville, Ala.

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 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 88 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 75,000 people worldwide.

SOURCE Raytheon Company