"The contract awarded by the U.S. Special Operations Command, calls for rapid development, installation, testing, and qualification of a weapon capability that provides defensive fire protection to all quadrants of the aircraft," BAE Systems said in a statement Wednesday.

"The belly-mounted system is remotely operated and capable of delivering accurate, sustained fire throughout the CV-22's flight envelope. The contract is valued at $491,000, with a potential value of $16.3 million, including options," the company said.

"At BAE Systems, we pride ourselves on the work we do to protect those who protect us," said Clark Freise, vice president of defense avionics for BAE Systems in Johnson City, N.Y. "This system will provide vital protection to this aircraft, its operators, and the Special Operations personnel that it will carry."

"The weapon system is based on BAE Systems' Remote Guardian System, a company-funded effort to develop a common airborne defensive capability. BAE Systems has been investing in the RGS for more than two years and unveiled the system in October 2007 at the Modern Day Marine military exposition in Quantico, Va.," the company said.

BAE Systems describes itself as "the premier global defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions, and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded $27 billion in 2006."