A joint venture company of Raytheon and General Dynamics is to operate, maintain and sustain U.S. Air Force launch and test ranges in Florida and California.

The $1.5 billion award - the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Launch and Test Range System Integrated Support contract - has a one-year base performance period with nine one-year options.

The contract consolidates existing operations and maintenance work at the ranges at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Under the award, joint venture company Range Generation Next will provide organizational and depot-level maintenance and sustainment for safe and effective launch, testing, and tracking of Department of Defense, civil, commercial, and international spacelift vehicles. It will also support ballistic missile, guided weapon, and aeronautical tests and evaluations.

"Together, Raytheon and General Dynamics offer the U.S. Air Force more than 40 years of operations and maintenance experience, along with leadership across information technology domains," said Lynn Dugle, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "In this cost-sensitive environment... [the contract] will deliver efficiencies and economies of scale that could not be obtained under separate contracts."

Added Dan Johnson, president of General Dynamics Information Technology: "As part of this proven team, General Dynamics Information Technology will leverage lessons learned and proven processes to ensure the ranges continue as the nation's premier launch facilities."