Raytheon Receives $13 Million for Aegis Modernization

Raytheon Company was awarded a $13.7 million U.S. Navy contract to upgrade the Aegis weapons system for several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers.

Under the Aegis modernization baseline contract, Raytheon will implement various ordnance alterations to enhance the weapons system’s tracking performance and missile communication capabilities. The upgrades will improve radio frequency signal generation, allow missile data downlink for ballistic missile defense operations, and enable operation with current missile configurations.

“These upgrades will strengthen the capabilities of Aegis, improving the reliability and effectiveness of this frontline weapons system,” said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems’ (IDS) John Kelly, director of Sensor Systems. “Raytheon continues its legacy of radar systems expertise, serving a critical role in the modernization of Aegis and helping the Navy to remain ahead of sea-based threats.”

Debate Iran? No, but Talks Are Possible

President Barack Obama has a chance to make good on the campaign pledge he made during the CNN/YouTube debate back in 2008: to sit down with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

This week Ahmadinejad offered to meet “face-to-face” in a debate before the media “to put the world’s issues on the table to find out whose solution is better.”

The regime in Tehran has repeatedly rebuffed U.S. attempts at engagement, thwarting the international community as it continues to pursue its nuclear program, which it claims is for peaceful purposes. The United States and its allies maintain Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.

The White House dismissed Ahmadinejad’s offer as a theatrics, saying Iran isn’t serious about discussing its nuclear ambitions. But senior administration officials say there are serious discussions taking place between the European Union foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, and Iranian nuclear negotiators about resuming talks.

Czech Republic Will Host Missile-Defense Component

‘Early warning center’ part of Obama administration’s amended plan

As first reported by The Prague Post in February, the Czech Republic will be the site of a key component for the United States’ amended European missile-defense system.

The announcement came as the Obama administration requested $2.2 million in funding from Congress to construct the project, and was confirmed by Prime Minister Petr Necas at a press conference July 30.

“After the U.S. administration changed their concept of a missile-defense system in Europe, there were still negotiations on how allies could participate,” he said. “I want to emphasize that it didn’t emerge as news, but it is rather a matter of continuous negotiations.”

Japan Considers Exporting SM-3 Missiles

Japan may export the ship-launched Standard Missile-3 system, a change from the country’s current ban on selling arms and weapons.

Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 block 2A system is an advanced version of the SM-3 series jointly under development with the United States and other countries.

The apparent move comes after a request last October by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Japan’s Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Japan is set to receive the first of the missiles in 2018.

The United States is expecting an answer by the end of the year, a report in Japan Times newspaper said.