Article Posted on : - Apr 02, 2013

New production Patriot GEM-T missile test firing at McGregor Range, N.M. Photo: Raytheon. (PRNewsFoto/Raytheon Company)

TEWKSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS (BNS): Raytheon Company's Patriot missiles, critical components of the Patriot Air and Missile Defence System, have received US Army approval for a second recertification, extending the operational life of the worldwide inventory of Patriot missiles from 30 to 45 years.

This extension allows customers to recertify and/or upgrade their inventory of Raytheon's Patriot missiles at a fraction of the cost of replacing them with alternative interceptors, the Company said.

Patriot is one of the most capable air and missile defence system, providing protection against a full range of advanced threats, including aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

"This significant life extension decision by the Army comes on the heels of a recent $46.7 million US Army contract awarded to Raytheon to recertify and upgrade Patriot missiles to the latest GEM-T configuration as part of the continuous Patriot modernization effort," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defence at Raytheon's Integrated Defence Systems business.

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. Over the last 20 years, Raytheon's Patriot missiles have undergone more than 500 successful test firings.