ALBUQUERQUE — Aerospace and defense contractor Raytheon Technologies Corp. has confirmed plans to pack up operations in New Mexico and move to Arizona and elsewhere.
Raytheon will close its office in Albuquerque, where it employs about 200 people, the Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday.
Company spokeswoman Heather Uberuaga said about 20 workers affected by the closure will move to Raytheon Missiles & Defense in Tucson.
Raytheon is looking to streamline its capabilities with pursuits and programs located at other sites around the country, Uberuaga said.
In April, the former Raytheon Co. completed its merger with United Technologies Corp. to create Raytheon Technologies Corp.
Tucson became headquarters for a consolidated Raytheon Missiles & Defense, consisting of Raytheon Missile Systems and Raytheon’s former Boston-area Integrated Defense Systems business.
Uberuaga described the Albuquerque move as being in the best interest of customers and said the company will work with employees on individual options for employment going forward. That could include transferring to a new site or applying for different positions within the company.
All laid-off workers will receive severance packages, and health-care coverage will continue during the severance.
Raytheon’s Albuquerque division has worked closely in recent years with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base to develop modern laser and microwave weapons. That work will be transferred to Raytheon Missiles and Defense headquarters in Tucson.
Raytheon’s operation in Albuquerque was created under the former Raytheon Missile Systems after the company acquired locally based Ktech Corp. and its directed-energy assets in 2011.
Raytheon expanded its operations at the Sandia Science and Technology Park on Albuquerque’s south side in 2017. The company received $850,000 in economic development funding from the state to offset the expansion costs. Uberuaga said that money has been returned.
