MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 11, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN) has won the U.S. Air Force's competition to upgrade a satellite
communications system that provides protected communications to warfighters
around the world.
The contract, valued in excess of $75 million, is for development and
production of the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network
program upgrade, or MMPU. Raytheon began work on the current MMP solution for
the Air Force in 1999 as part of a study contract.
"This award is further testament to our unparalleled expertise in
protected satellite communications and advanced extremely high frequency, or
AEHF, communications across the services," said Jerry Powlen , vice president,
Raytheon Network Centric Systems' Integrated Communications Systems. "The MMPU
contract, along with our protected SATCOM contract for the Navy Multiband
Terminal and our efforts on the Army's Secure Mobile Anti Jam Reliable
Tactical Terminal, demonstrates our innovative technology solutions."
As part of the MMPU contract, Raytheon Network Centric Systems will
develop, deliver, and support an advanced satellite communication system of
ground-based communication terminals. The Air Force expects to field the
terminals for operational test and evaluation in late 2009, which is
consistent with Department of Defense's plans to have its advanced extremely
high frequency satellite constellation in operation in 2010.
Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader
specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets
throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 85 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the art electronics, mission systems integration and other
capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command and control,
communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission
support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000
people worldwide.
Note to Editors:
This award was originally announced by the Department of Defense Jan. 15,
2008
MMPU provides the mission flexibility, data throughput and transmission
assurance that allows Air Force and national command and control networks
to extend seamlessly from the president and other national command
authorities to operational forces.
The Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network provides the
president and the Department of Defense with assured connectivity to
warfighters around the world.
Raytheon won the $1 billion Navy Multiband Terminal contract in June 2007.
Under the contract Raytheon will deliver the next-generation of protected
SATCOM to the Navy.
Raytheon's SMART-T is the first AEHF system to go into production with the
proven capability to communicate with the next generation of Advanced
Extremely High Frequency communications satellites. AEHF is the Department
of Defense's primary system to provide highly protected satellite
communications through 2020.
Production work will be performed in Largo, Fla.
Contact:
MB Hodgkiss
508.490.2607
SOURCE Raytheon Company
