TEWKSBURY, Mass., 7 May 2009. Raytheon Company won a new contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command to continue "Pure Fleet" upgrades of U.S. Army Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems.

The 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, says a representative.

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

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

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