Raytheon has received a $10 million contract to provide advanced airborne data processing for the Missile Defense Agency.

"Raytheon's airborne processing technology offers real-time automated detection and tracking, in a flight-worthy package, to the MDA," said Tim Carey, vice president, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems, for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.

"Our onboard processors will use information from Raytheon's Multi-Spectral Targeting System sensors to detect and track potential missile strikes that could threaten the U.S., its allies and deployed troops."

The airborne processors will support the Missile Defense Agency's program to examine the effectiveness of airborne multispectral sensors to provide forward-based, fire-control quality tracks as part of the ballistic missile defense system.

Raytheon's MTS family of sensors is currently being examined by the Missile Defense Agency to improve sensor coverage in support of the administration's Phased Adaptive Approach.

Raytheon's mission processing responsibilities include developing the software necessary to perform automated detection, target tracking, on-board discrimination and transfer of information to the warfighter.

These tools will allow U.S. forces to act on potential threats, helping to achieve the long-term objectives of the MDA.

Raytheon was selected for this contract award for its support of the MDA flight test performed in March. During the test, Raytheon's MTS-B sensor observed threat-representative missiles, demonstrating to the MDA its ability to detect and track missiles from long ranges using automated control.