Last Updated: 12/23/2009*

Raytheon has received a $1.1 billion contract to provide new-production systems of the combat-proven Patriot Air and Missile Defense System to Taiwan. Benefits of the new systems include a complete technology refresh, obsolescence mitigation, improved man-machine interface and reduced life-cycle costs. The new systems further modernize Patriot’s technologies, increase its affordability and enable future enhancements to continually improve air and missile defense capabilities.

“For 40-plus years, Taiwan has trusted Raytheon products to protect its citizens, homeland and critical assets,” said Sanjay Kapoor, vice president of Patriot Programs, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). “We are honored that the Taiwan and U.S. governments have again chosen Raytheon for Taiwan’s defense needs.”

Advanced Technology

“Additional and upgraded Patriot systems will provide Taiwan with advanced technologies and improved capabilities to meet current and emerging air and missile threats,” said Skip Garrett, vice president and deputy of Patriot Programs, Raytheon IDS.

An initial contract — valued at $965.6 million — will provide ground-system hardware. A second award for initial spares, valued at $134.4 million, will ensure system performance. Raytheon IDS will manage the contracts and much of the work will be performed at the Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, Mass., as well as El Paso, Texas, and Huntsville, Ala.

Raytheon IDS worked with the U.S. and Taiwan governments to develop this agreement, and the U.S. government approved the Foreign Military Sales contracts. The contracts were issued by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Combat Proven

Raytheon’s Patriot has been the primary Air and Missile Defense System for the U.S. Army since the mid-1980s. It became a household word in 1991 for its ability to shoot down SCUD missiles fired from Iraq at targets in Saudi Arabia and Israel during the first Gulf War — Operation Desert Storm.

Since its fielding, Patriot components have undergone a series of hardware and software enhancements, advancing the system with new technologies and capabilities to ensure its effectiveness against all known and emerging threats.

Trusted Worldwide

As further indication of its reliability and reputation, the U.S. and 11 allied nations have chosen Patriot as a key component of their air and missile defense strategies to ensure the safety and security of their citizens, homeland and critical assets. These partners include: the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Israel, Saud Arabia, Kuwait, Taiwan, Greece, Spain, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Raytheon has had an outstanding relationship with Taiwan for 40-plus years. Many Raytheon products are on the front lines defending Taiwan’s freedoms, including Hawk, Patriot, AMRAAM, Sidewinder, Stinger, Sparrow, 10-1E, HADR, Surveillance Radar and more. The company has had an office in Taipei for several decades representing all of Raytheon’s products, and has two additional offices in Taiwan specifically in support of Patriot and Hawk.

Global Team of Partners and Suppliers

“It is through the work of our global team of partners and suppliers that we support the demand for new and upgraded Patriot systems,” said Kapoor. “The employees of Raytheon and all our partners stand ready to deliver these systems with the product quality and technical excellence for which we are known.”