Raytheon Co. in McKinney, TX received a $285.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for production of the improved target acquisition system. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX and is expected to be complete by Oct. 31, 2012. This was a sole source contract initiated on Dec. 22, 2005 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W31P4Q-06-C-0490).
ITAS was originally designed to provide an advanced fire control system for the TOW anti-armor missile, significantly increasing target detection, acquisition, recognition and engagement ranges. It also offers upgraded hardware for a 30-year old system, some of whose parts are no longer produced. An October 4, 2006 Raytheon release notes that this five-year contract continues Army procurement of the systems, and marks the start of U.S. Marine Corps acquisition. Our June 2005 article provides more information re: TOW-ITAS, including its use in battle as a pure reconnaissance device.