LONDON, July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $235.5 million contract for Radar Digital Processor (RDP) kits to upgrade the combat-proven Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for the US and two partner nations.

Awarded by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., this full rate production contract for the US will deliver significant benefits to the warfighter through:

a)  Capability – Improved target detection and identification, enhanced surveillance, and support of PAC-3 MSE missile.

b)  Reliability – 40% gain in overall radar reliability due to increased Mean Time Between Failure.

c)  Cost – Decrease in the number of battery replaceable units from 759 to 56, substantially reducing spares and maintenance costs over the life of the system.  

"These RDP upgrades are yet another example of how we continue to advance Patriot technology to stay ahead of evolving threats," said Ralph Acaba, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. "All of our 12 Patriot partners participate in prioritizing these enhancements and funding them through the Patriot International Engineering Services Program."  

Work under this contract will be performed at Raytheon's Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass., supported by a global team of Patriot system suppliers.

About Patriot 
Patriot is the world's most modern and capable air and missile defense system, providing protection against a full range of advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Continually upgraded and enhanced to reflect the latest technology, Patriot is the system of choice for 12 nations around the globe.

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

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 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 cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contact
Roopa Bhide
978.858.9304 
idspr@raytheon.com 

SOURCE Raytheon Company