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Army upgrading Patriot missiles

JER2003030509 - JAFFA, Israel, March 5 (UPI) -- An Arab child wears a Osama Bin Laden mask in front of an American Patriot anti-missile system deployed in a joint US-Israeli military outpost in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, March 5, 2003. The Patriots are being deployed to protect Israel from possible Iraqi missile attacks in the event of a US led military attack on Iraq. dh/Debbie Hill UPI
1 of 4 | JER2003030509 - JAFFA, Israel, March 5 (UPI) -- An Arab child wears a Osama Bin Laden mask in front of an American Patriot anti-missile system deployed in a joint US-Israeli military outpost in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, March 5, 2003. The Patriots are being deployed to protect Israel from possible Iraqi missile attacks in the event of a US led military attack on Iraq. dh/Debbie Hill UPI | License Photo

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.

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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.

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