PAC-2 missiles set for component upgrades

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TEWKSBURY, Mass., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Selected components on U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles are being upgraded by Raytheon to increase reliability and service life.

The upgrade to the Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical configuration comes under a contract issued to the company by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and will be performed at Raytheon's Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass.

"Patriot is the cornerstone of many nations' air and missile defense capabilities, and in today's budget-conscious environment, we are able to offer the U.S. and our global partner base a cost-effective upgrade option for the most advanced combat-proven system in the world," said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president for Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

The contract is a follow-on to ANSCOM continuous technology upgrade program for the air and missile defense system. Raytheon said missile upgrades are ongoing under existing contracts for the Patriot, which is deployed by a dozen countries.

The contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command is $51.3 million.