TME gets missile contract from Raytheon

June 16th, 1999

Raytheon Systems Limited, will award a contract for the production of Target Detection Devices (TDDs) for AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) to Thomson-Thorn Missile Electronics (TME) in Basingstoke, England, a unit of Thomson-CSF, France.

Raytheon and Thomson have signed a letter of intent for TME to supply a minimum of 600 TDDs for AMRAAM lots 14 and 15. The letter of intent allows Thomson to begin investment and start preparing its facility for full line production. It is expected that Lot 14 and 15 contracts will be formally awarded in the annual AMRAAM procurement cycles.

TME is part of the Raytheon team bidding for the UK MoD's SR(A) 1239 BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile) requirement. Raytheon and TME already work together on a number of high technology programmes and TME has been a supplier to Raytheon's Missile facilities for a number of years on programmes such as JSOW (Joint Stand- Off Weapon) and TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided).

Peter McKee, managing director, of Raytheon Systems Limited, said: "This is exactly the sort of contract we said we would place in Europe as a result of our transatlantic teaming agreements. Thomson-Thorn will lead the Integrated Product Team (IPT) to produce the Lethality Section for Raytheon's BVRAAM, and this award confirms our confidence in their ability to produce TDDs for the world's leading air-to-air missile system.

"TME's contract for AMRAAM TDDs further reduces any risk to the MoD's BVRAAM programme as they become familiar with TDD production on AMRAAM prior development and production of Raytheon's BVRAAM. "

TME Chief Executive, David Barnes, said: "TME and Raytheon have worked well together for many years, and this current extension of our relationship will undoubtedly lead on to further joint activities in the years to come."

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