New Raytheon Sonar Contract means Jobs in Portsmouth

Raytheon Company announced it has just been awarded a $35.5 million contract with the U.S. Navy to make minehunting sonar systems and equipment.

Most of the work will be performed at Raytheon's Portsmouth facility. 

Along with the base contract, it includes options that could bring the total value of the deal to $199.6 million.

The system "leverages advanced sonar technologies to support the Navy's critical minehunting missions, ensuring safe access and passage for military and civilian vessels on the world's oceans and waterways."

The system is towed undersea by the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and scans the water in front, below and the sides of the vehicle to detect anti-shipping mines.

The system "provides the Navy with the advantage they need to safely detect and effectively identify these undersea threats," said Kevin Peppe, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. 

According to a release, the system "is a critical element of the U.S. Navy's mine countermeasure capability, and the only minehunting sonar sensor developed, tested and certified for Remote Multi Mission Vehicle (RMMV) deployment. It is the most advanced and capable mine warfare sensor system, fully integrated with and effectively operated from the RMMV, now successfully deployed from LCS 2."