Raytheon has commenced work to improve Patriot missile defence capabilities, as part of a $202m contract awarded earlier this month.

Awarded by the US Army Contracting Command, the contract is supported by 13 US allies, Raytheon stated.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems business Integrated Air and Missile Defense vice-president Ralph Acaba said: "This contract will deliver critical capability to the warfighter while also employing highly skilled Americans.

"The members of the Patriot partnership share the cost of engineering services, which could be prohibitively expensive for a single nation."

Raytheon will be tasked with conducting software development, systems analysis, testing and logistics support, as well as support requirements defined by individual Patriot partner nations.

The enhancements to be made under the contract are expected to improve the Patriot air and missile defence system's readiness to make it more capable.

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Work under the contract will be carried out in Alabama, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas, US.

The contract is expected to sustain more than 500 jobs across the four US states, the statement said.

"This contract will deliver critical capability to the warfighter while also employing highly skilled Americans."

The long-range, high-altitude, all-weather Patriot system has been designed to counter threats from tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, drones and advanced aircraft.

To date, Patriot has been tested more than 2,500 times with the US Army under real-world conditions, according to Raytheon.

The Patriot was recently upgraded with GaN-based AESA radar technology to increase its detection range and power, as well as enable 360° coverage.

The upgrades also allow the system to fire multiple missile types to destroy a range of threats.


Image: Patriot can counter threats from tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones and advanced aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Raytheon Company.