Raytheon has been awarded a $21.2 million U.S. Navy contract for components of the NATO SEASPARROW MK48 Guided Missile Vertical Launch System (GMVLS).
The MK48 launches SEASPARROW and Evolved SEASPARROW (ESSM) missiles to defend against high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles.
Under this modification to an existing contract, Raytheon will deliver 68 MK20 MOD 1 canisters and 156 spare frangible covers, critical components of the MK48 GMVLS. The canisters will support systems currently in use by the Canadian Navy, while the frangible covers will be delivered to Canada, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
"The MK48 GMVLS provides essential missile defense capabilities to protect and defend our international allies," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) Charles "Tom" Bush, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems.
"Raytheon is committed to providing reliable and effective system components that warfighters can depend on, the first time and every time."
The NATO SEASPARROW Consortium, which comprises the U.S. and 11 other countries, will fund the contract. Work will be performed at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, R.I., and by a major subcontractor in Hoogeveen, Netherlands. Work is scheduled to be completed by December 2010. Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., leads the cooperative development efforts for ESSM.
