U.S. Navy Contract Caps Big Month for Portsmouth-Based Defense Contractor

In what represents another major triumph in a streak of recent successes, Portsmouth-based defense and aerospace government contractor, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, has won a $56 million contract to provide sonar equipment to the U.S. Navy.

Designed and manufactured for use aboard the Navy's MH-60R multi-mission helicopter, Raytheon's Airborne Low Frequency Sonar, or ALFS, is primarily used to detect and track enemy submarines.

Earlier in the month, the U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon with a $450 million contract to engineer and manufacture the air-launched, precision-strike weapon known as the SDB II.

The Navy contract brings the total amount of new government business that Raytheon has won during the current month to more than half a billion dollars – that's billion, with a "b."

Raytheon's ALFS system can detect submarines over a wide range of sea, effectively reducing the number of helicopters needed to perform undersea warfare activities in a given operation.

Efficient in both deep and shallow waters, they double as an underwater communications device and can also monitor subsea environmental conditions.

Just a few weeks ago, Raytheon entered a partnership with the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy to share the sonar technology among the submarines of both nations.

When asked what these developments might mean as far as new hiring, Raytheon spokesperson Nicholas Garrison, a senior communications representative with the company, stated, "I'm afraid that's something I can't comment on."

With an expected delivery date of March 2014, the contract with the U.S. Navy to manufacture the undersea warfare sonar systems will keep Raytheon employees busy for the next three and a half years.

Raytheon specializes in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services.

The company employs approximately 75,000 employees worldwide and reported $25 billion in sales last year.

For more information about Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, click here.