Raytheon Wins Air-Traffic Radar System Contract Worth $260 Million

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Raytheon a contract to build rapidly deployable air traffic control (ATC) systems.

The contract, with a potential full value of $260 million, calls for one Engineering and Manufacturing Development unit plus production options for up to 18 Deployable Radar Approach Control (D-RAPCON) systems.

Raytheon has been authorised $50.6 million from U.S for the early development stage. Ten of the units will be delivered to the Air National Guard, seven to the active-duty Air Force Space Command, one to the Air Force ATC school and one to the Air Force depot.

D-RAPCON provides sequencing, separation of aircraft, navigation assistance and airspace control services, all with the latest digital sensors, communications equipment and advanced surveillance data processing systems.

"Our deployable system capitalizes on many years of investment and testing, and will support safe and efficient airspace operations in areas where air traffic infrastructure is compromised or non-existent," said Joseph Paone, director of Air Traffic Management in Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

D-RAPCON consists of a transportable antenna plus three trailer-sized shelters that house radar equipment, communications systems, and an operations center with multiple controller work stations. Each station has the same look and feel of what a controller would see at a major airport.

The Raytheon technology builds on proven subsystems, including the Digital Airport Surveillance Radar (DASR) and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS). U.S. Air Force air traffic controllers are trained and certified on STARS, the same automation system they use at the fixed-base ATC sites.