Update: $20M for Raytheon to Integrate 6 SHARP Recon Pods
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The U.S. Navy has awarded a subsidiary of Raytheon Company a $19.9 million contract to produce high-resolution, digital imaging Shared Reconnaissance Pods (SHARP) that can withstand the hostile naval environment.
Under this contract, Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC will produce six additional SHARP systems at its Indianapolis facility for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2006. The SHARP pod provides advanced day/night imaging and real-time data linking to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
The SHARP system was developed by a government and industry team composed of Raytheon; Boeing; Recon/Optical, Inc.; L-3 Communications; and the U.S. Navy. Raytheon’s responsibilities have evolved over the years to its current role of system production and integration. As DID noted at the time, Raytheon has already procured key subsystems and components under an earlier award from the Navy.
Its design allows the latest optical and electronics technologies to be swapped in, and Raytheon designed the pod to be highly adaptable to many sensor payloads. With the SHARP pod proven in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the consortium participants hopes to be able to adapt and sell it for use on a wide range of aircraft. Corporate release.
