Article Posted on : - Jul 28, 2010

Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) system.

TEWKSBURY (BNS): US Army has awarded a $23 million extended contract to Raytheon to provide mission support and system sustainment for the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) systems to US coalition forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Earlier in 2008, Raytheon had received a $76.2 million contract from US Army for the RAID systems.

"This additional mission and sustainment support will further improve RAID's capability as a multifunctional battlefield system, providing enhanced situational awareness to the war-fighter," Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president of National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), said in a company news release.

"This award enables Raytheon to continue providing unparalleled support to our war-fighters and reinforces an unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest operational readiness," he added.

RAID was developed to meet the military's increasingly critical need for persistent surveillance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

RAID has an infrared sensor systems elevated on a stationary platform, which enables US and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threatening situations.

The company will perform the work at its Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Massachusetts and at War-fighter Protection Center, Huntsville Alabama.