DARPA selects integrator for close air support project

Raytheon Co. has been awarded a $7 million contract from the Defense Department to provide systems integration services for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Under the terms of the award, Raytheon will serve as a mission systems integrator for Phase I of DARPA's Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) project.

Raytheon's proposed PCAS solution will develop technologies that significantly reduce the timeline for close air support through improved coordination among joint terminal attack controllers, airborne sensors and weapons, according to a company statement released today.

The company's approach will enable the controllers to command unmanned aircraft and rapidly and effectively select weapons while decreasing the controllers' workload and improving their situational awareness.

The contractor will also use open architecture to enable PCAS to grow and integrate into current and future command and control systems.

Team members include Rockwell Collins, GE Aviation and Proxy Aviation Systems.

Raytheon is based in Waltham, Mass.