US Navy Awards LRIP Contract for AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems

Released on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

TEWKSBURY, Mass., March 19, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received a $7.7 million U.S. Navy contract for the low rate initial production of three AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems (AMNS). The contract follows a successful "Milestone C" review in which the system's design was validated by the Navy and approved to advance to low rate initial production.

AMNS, an essential component of the Navy's organic mine countermeasures family of systems, is deployed by the MH-60S multi-mission helicopter to locate and destroy underwater anti-shipping mines previously detected by Raytheon's AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar system. Both AMNS and AN/AQS-20A provide critical capabilities that make seaborne mine clearance missions significantly more effective, efficient and safe.

"With AN/AQS-20A and AMNS, we are providing the Navy with an end-to-end solution -- detect to neutralize -- the leading operational capability for the organic mine warfare mission," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' Charles "Tom" Bush, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems. "These tested and proven technologies bring outstanding capabilities to this mission while successfully removing the sailors and the ship from the dangers of the minefield."

AMNS consists of a helicopter-based control console, as well as a launch and handling system (LHS) equipped with four unmanned Archerfish(TM) neutralizer vehicles that destroy mines via remote control from the operator in the helicopter.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems is the prime production supplier for the AMNS program, working closely with its international partner, BAE Systems, Waterlooville, U.K., the producer of the Archerfish and the system's deployment mechanism.

Under the contract, Raytheon will assemble, test and deliver three LHS units for AMNS, as well as support equipment. Work will be performed at Raytheon's Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, R.I.