The US Army has awarded a contract to Raytheon to improve the common sensor payload (CSP) for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Under the $37.4m contract, Raytheon will integrate high definition detectors into the AN/AAS-53 CSP for better image quality and increased target location accuracy.

The company will also deliver eight upgraded CSP configuration systems after designing, building and testing the new system, according to Flight Global.

The CSP contract, awarded to Raytheon in November 2007, was to install the sensor on its General Atomics MQ-1C Grey Eagle UAV and Bell ARH-70 Arapaho armed reconnaissance helicopters.

The delivery is scheduled to be complete by December 2012.