Raytheon selected for Space Fence program

TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has selected Raytheon to provide prototype services in support of the Space Fence situational awareness program.

U.S. company Raytheon says its Integrated Defense Systems unit was selected as one of three defense contractors to support the Air Force's Space Fence, a system of land-based S-Band radars and support centers being designed to detect and alert authorities when objects and debris are orbiting the Earth.

Under the $30 million Phase A deal, Raytheon will provide system design and prototype development for the Space Fence system.

"Space Fence is the future of space situational awareness," Pete Franklin, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' national and theater security programs vice president, said in a statement.

"This sensor will have the capability to detect and track very small objects in low Earth orbit."