Raytheon Company has been awarded a $38.8 million contract by the U.S. Navy to provide AN/AAQ-29A Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) imaging systems for installation on U.S. Marine Corps Super Stallion CH-53E helicopters.

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) will deliver 83 Q-29A FLIR kits and software under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sole source ID/IQ (Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity) contract.

"Raytheon appreciates the opportunity to serve our Navy and Marine Corps customers by providing a proven and reliable product in the Q-29A FLIR," remarked Mike Tatu, Raytheon's Q-29A program manager. "Having supported the CH-53Es since 1993, the company looks forward to continued delivery of seamless mission system integration and responsive customer mission support."

Raytheon's AN/AAQ-29A system delivers state of the art FLIR imagery, and on the CH-53E, the mid-wavelength turreted system will support helicopter navigation, surveillance and target acquisition mission applications.

"The fleet is overflowing in praise regarding the performance of the Q- 29A," remarked Marine Colonel Paul Croisetiere, the NAVAIR H-53 program manager. "This system has provided significantly increased situational awareness to flight crews operating in the most demanding operational environments and has been critical to mission performance and safety."

The AN/AAQ-29A is a lightweight, high performance FLIR that incorporates a 480 x 640 element, 3-5 micron wavelength indium antimonite detector and a three field of view telescope on a 12-inch diameter turret. Small and powerful, Raytheon's Q-29A can support a variety of helicopter missions including low-level navigation and high altitude long-range targeting.

Raytheon SAS is the leading provider of sensor systems giving warfighters the most accurate and timely information available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2004 revenues of $4 billion and 13,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with additional facilities in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.

FMI: www.raytheon.com