Raytheon Systems, the United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Raytheon Company, has won an important competitive development contract from the US Air Force Joint Program Office (USAF JPO) to provide next generation GPS Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) systems.

This key technology program is worth, with options, around $50 million; the first increment of work is valued at nearly $8 million.

ADAP, which follows on from RSL’s successful DAE (Digital Antenna Electronics) development contract, represents a significant performance enhancement to the company’s highly successful GAS-1 (GPS Antenna System), which RSL has been providing to the US Air Force for six years.

Jack Cronin, RSL president and managing director, said: “This is an important win for RSL. It builds on our tremendously successful GAS-1 product line and offers the DoD a low-risk solution with cutting edge technology.”

“For the past two and a half years, we have demonstrated 100 percent on time delivery to our US customer and offer a tremendous technological edge at optimal cost. We are thrilled to partner with the DoD on this important effort.”

Richard Daniel, RSL’s executive director responsible for the program, commented: “Our success in this contract can be attributed in part to our excellent performance on the GAS-1 contract, which has been reflected in the excellent grading under the Department of Defense’s CPARS performance evaluation system.”

“RSL’s experience in this area of technology is second to none, and our proposal was considered by the customer to well exceed performance and capability requirements.”

This key technology was developed by RSL in the UK EDO, New York, NY, is a major sub-contractor.

ADAP development will continue through to the end of 2005. The first production contract is scheduled for October 2006, with deliveries starting in 2007, and with orders for annual production thereafter.

Some 1300 units are to be delivered during the six-year production run. Platforms to be equipped with ADAP equipment include both aircraft and ships.