Raytheon awarded $23 million to provide mission support for RAID system

Raytheon, based in Waltham, MA, has been awarded a $23 million U.S. Army contract extension to provide mission support and system sustainment for the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) systems that protect U.S. and coalition forces deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Raytheon first developed RAID to meet the military's increasingly critical need for persistent surveillance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RAID consists of infrared sensor systems elevated on a stationary platform. This capability enables U.S. and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threatening situations. Work will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, MA, and at Warfighter Protection Center in Huntsville, AL.

"This additional mission and sustainment support will further improve RAID's capability as a multifunctional battlefield system, providing enhanced situational awareness to the warfighter," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president of National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "This award enables Raytheon to continue providing unparalleled support to our warfighters and reinforces an unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest operational readiness."