Raytheon wins Seasparrow upgrade contract

TEWKSBURY, Mass., March 28 (UPI) -- Raytheon has won a $17.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy and NATO for its MK57, MK 29 and MK73 missiles.

Raytheon said its Integrated Defense Systems division would put together and test the three SeaSparrow missile systems, working with NATO's SeaSparrow Project Office.

The company described the MK57 NATO SeaSparrow Missile System -- NSSMS -- as the primary self-defense weapons system for U.S. aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. Raytheon said its IDS unit functions as the Mission Systems Integrator for the MK57 NSSMS. The company also produces the hardware and processing needed to fire and direct the SeaSparrow and Evolved SeaSparrow -- self-defense missiles.

"The MK57 NSSMS is an advanced and affordable solution that our war fighters can depend on," said Raytheon IDS' Charles "Tom" Bush, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems. "We've worked very hard to ensure that we are delivering the most effective solution that accomplishes the mission the first time and every time."

The upgraded MK57 NSSMS uses commercial off-the-shelf hardware for its processing and displays, state-of-the-art microprocessors for signal processing, and new solid-state transmitter technology, the company said.

The new contract covers the procurement, assembly, testing and delivery of ordnance alteration kits for the MK57 Mod 13 NSSMS, MK29 Mod 4 launcher and MK73 Mod 3 solid-state transmitter. Under it, the company will also produce various spares and data for the systems.

The alteration kits will be manufactured at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, R.I., and Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass.; Raytheon Canada Ltd., Waterloo, Canada; Miller Stuart Inc., Long Island, N.Y.; and Kuchera Defense Systems, Windber, Pa.

The U.S. Navy is phasing out its RIM-7 SeaSparrow defense missile on carriers and assault ships and replacing them with the ESSM RIM-162, the company said.