Army upgrading Patriot missiles

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TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is upgrading 131 Patriot Advanced Capability 2 missiles under a $58 million contract given to Raytheon of Massachusetts.

Under the follow-on award from the Army Aviation and Missile Command in Alabama, Raytheon will upgrade the missiles to the Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical configuration.

The Patriot GEM-T missile upgrades include the replacement of select components that increase reliability and extend the service life of the missile.

GEM-T upgrades are ongoing under existing contracts with the U.S. and other Patriot partner nations and are performed at Raytheon's Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass.

"These continuing upgrades speak to the critical role Patriot plays in our 12 partner nations' air and missile defense capabilities," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Patriot Programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "This cost-effective alternative makes it possible for them to increase their air and missile defense capabilities, using existing Patriot systems."

Raytheon IDS is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.