The U.S. and its allies will soon have an enhanced ability to detect and defend against missile launches by hostile nations and entities.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $125.3 million contract to modernize and add new capability to an Air Force early warning radar (EWR) system.

The upgraded EWR (UEWR), a high-powered mission-critical radar, will continue providing early warning of missile launches and space surveillance.

The UEWR also adds a new capability - providing targeting data that can be used to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles.

"Raytheon drew on its seven decades of experience designing, developing, building and operating radars to offer the government a cost-effective solution that will help keep America and its allies safe from enemy missiles," said Dave Gulla, vice president of Global Integrated Sensors for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business.

"Our experience as the designer and developer of the proven EWR, and our experience upgrading EWR systems in California, the U.K. and Greenland, enable us to provide the government a low-risk solution at a very competitive price."

The EWR that Raytheon will upgrade is a large phased-array radar in Clear, Alaska. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

The upgrade will use the existing phased-array radar face and add enhanced electronics and software to improve performance and target detection. During the upgrade work, the currently deployed EWRs will continue operation, uninterrupted, safeguarding the U.S. and its allies.

The upgraded radar will continue to perform as part of the Missile Warning and Space Surveillance Networks, and will be integrated into the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System as part of the layered defense of the United States.