Raytheon, Kongsberg extend missile partnership agreement

PARIS, June 16 (UPI) -- Raytheon and Norway's Kongsberg Defense Systems have extended their partnership to further development of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.

NASAMS is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system to defeat cruise missile threats and a wide range of air breathing threats. It works seamlessly with the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System and the Hawk Air Defense System.

Among its main components are the AMRAAM missile and the AN/MPQ-64 F1 Sentinel air defense radar.

"Raytheon has partnered with Kongsberg for a decade to develop and produce the most accurate and reliable surface-to-air missile defense capability available," said Ralph Acaba, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Air and Missile Defense. "This NASAMS partnership has resulted in a successful system that is now in service around the globe."

"We truly value our partnership with Raytheon on NASAMS. Together we have continuously improved the technology base for the benefit of the warfighter. In addition to the successful NASAMS system, our two companies have recently teamed on the Naval Strike Missile and the Joint Strike Missile strike missiles," said Eirik Lie, Executive Vice President for Kongsberg Defence Systems.

The 10-year extension of their partnership agreement was signed at the Paris Air Show in France.