Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $116.4 million contract to further develop technologies for the U.S. Army’s Long-Range Precision Fires program.
Raytheon’s proposed candidate to replace the decades-old Army Tactical Missile System, called “DeepStrike,” can destroy fixed land targets at a range of more than 300 miles, or about 40 percent farther than the current system, the company said.
Work under the contract will include testing missile components to be sure the design is ready for engineering and manufacturing development and live-fire demonstrations by the end of 2019, Raytheon said.
Lockheed Martin, maker of the current Army missile system, also is vying to develop and produce the new missile and is expected to receive a similar development contract.
The Army is expected to pick one contractor by 2021, aiming to deploy the system by around 2027.
