U.S. Air Force Awards $197M Contract for Polish Air Force Reconnaissance Capability

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon a $197 million contract to deliver airborne reconnaissance systems for the Polish Air Force, marking Poland as the first NATO member and the fourth air force globally to field the capability.

The contract was issued by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and covers production, aircraft integration, and engineering support for seven reconnaissance pods. The systems will be supplied to Poland under a government-backed procurement framework.

The MS-110 Multispectral Reconnaissance System is designed to collect day and night imagery across wide areas and at long ranges. The system uses multispectral sensors and onboard processing software, including artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, to analyze collected data more quickly than earlier-generation platforms.

Raytheon said the system improves coverage by collecting multiple imaging bands over the same area and extending surveillance ranges compared with legacy reconnaissance pods. The company stated that the system can be carried by fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, special mission platforms, and medium-altitude long-endurance drones.

MS-110 sensor is compatible with carriage on fighters (F-16, F-15 and F/A-18 as well as Gripen and other fast jet platforms), C-130s, MPA class aircraft, special mission craft and MALE UAVs such as MQ-9.

Work under the contract will be carried out in Westford, Massachusetts. Completion is scheduled for August 2031.