(Tewksbury, Mass., July 12, 2010) -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $14.2 million contract to deliver the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS Mk 2) Open Architecture for four U.S. Navy ships and one land-based test facility.

SSDS is an open, distributed combat management system for aircraft carriers and expeditionary warfare ships. It is designed to expedite the detect-to-engage sequence to defend against anti-ship cruise missiles. SSDS links and automates stand-alone sensors and weapon systems to provide the required combat reaction. With its open and modular design, SSDS can be modified to support additional domestic and international combatants.

Under the contract, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) will assemble, test and deliver upgraded hardware sets that will be integrated on board the Navy's amphibious assault ship LHA 7; aircraft carriers USS Truman (CVN 75) and USS Ford (CVN 78); the amphibious transport dock ship LPD 26; and the Naval Air Systems Command test facility.

"Raytheon's SSDS is the most sophisticated combat management system available, providing exceptional capabilities to ensure maximum protection for the ship and her crew," said Raytheon IDS' Dave Gray, director of Ship Defense Systems. "The system's open design and flexibility easily support upgrades to enhance and extend the ship's capabilities -- now and throughout the life of the ship."

This award follows a $7.5 million contract modification for platform system engineering agent services for SSDS. As PSEA, Raytheon integrates upgrades to existing combat systems on board amphibious ships and aircraft carriers.

Raytheon's SSDS Mk 2 has implemented an open architecture computing environment software that includes selected software components from the Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure developed for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer. The open architecture design adds a new level of flexibility and commercial standards to support the Navy's goal for open, modular and interoperable combat management systems for the fleet.

Source : Raytheon Corporation (NYSE: RTN) - click here for more information