Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX), has secured contracts worth $729 million to supply counter-drone defence systems to the US Army, Qatar and Jordan, marking the first international sales of two of its key technologies.
The agreements cover components of the Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS), which is designed to detect, track and counter unmanned aerial threats.
The contracts include Raytheon’s Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor (KuRFS) and Coyote interceptor systems, with deliveries covering both fixed-site and mobile configurations.
The awards represent an expansion of Raytheon’s international counter-drone business as RTX increases production capacity to address demand for technologies designed to protect military personnel and infrastructure from unmanned aircraft.
The $729 million in contracts will support the delivery of LIDS components to the US Army and defence customers in Qatar and Jordan.
The agreements mark the first international sales of Raytheon’s KuRFS radar and Coyote effector, extending the technologies beyond their existing US applications.
LIDS combines detection and interception capabilities to counter threats from small, low-flying and slow-moving unmanned aircraft.
The system can be deployed in fixed-site configurations to protect designated locations or integrated into mobile platforms to support military operations.
The inclusion of both configurations provides customers with options for addressing different operational requirements.
Raytheon did not disclose the individual contract values allocated to the US Army, Qatar and Jordan, or provide a delivery timetable in the announcement.
Raytheon’s Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor is designed to identify and track airborne threats across a 360-degree field of coverage.
The radar forms part of the detection component of the LIDS system, providing information used to identify potential threats and support defensive responses.
KuRFS is intended to address the challenges associated with detecting smaller unmanned aircraft, which can operate at low altitudes and may be difficult to identify using conventional surveillance systems.
By combining radar detection with interceptor technologies, LIDS provides an integrated approach to countering unmanned aircraft.
The KuRFS system is included in the new contracts alongside Raytheon’s Coyote interceptor, which provides the threat-defeat capability.
The Coyote family of effectors is designed to counter both individual drones and groups of unmanned aircraft operating together.
Raytheon said the system can employ kinetic and non-kinetic methods to defeat aerial threats.
Kinetic approaches involve physically intercepting or destroying a target, while non-kinetic methods can disrupt a drone’s ability to operate without relying on a conventional physical strike.
The availability of different engagement methods allows the system to address a range of unmanned aircraft threats.
Drone swarms present particular challenges for air defence systems because multiple aircraft may need to be detected, tracked and engaged within a short period.
The Coyote technology is intended to operate alongside KuRFS radar within the wider LIDS architecture.
RTX said it is investing in additional manufacturing capacity to increase production of the Coyote interceptor family.
The company is also incorporating technological improvements intended to strengthen the system’s operational capabilities.
Planned enhancements include faster launch times, higher interceptor speeds and extended range at greater altitudes.
These developments are intended to improve the system’s ability to respond to different types of unmanned aerial threats.
Tom Laliberty, President of Land and Air Defense Systems at Raytheon, said the company is “accelerating production of the Coyote family of effectors” in response to increased international demand.
The manufacturing expansion reflects RTX’s efforts to support additional orders while developing updated versions of its counter-drone technology.
The company did not provide specific investment figures or production targets in the announcement.
The contracts with the US Army, Qatar and Jordan demonstrate continued demand for integrated systems capable of detecting and countering unmanned aircraft.
Small drones are increasingly relevant to military operations, creating requirements for technologies that can identify and engage threats across different environments.
Raytheon’s LIDS offering combines radar surveillance and interception capabilities within a system that can be deployed at fixed installations or on mobile platforms.
The first international sales of KuRFS and Coyote also broaden the customer base for technologies previously supplied to US defence programmes.
For RTX, the $729 million contract awards represent additional business for its Raytheon division and support continued investment in counter-drone manufacturing and development.
The announcement did not specify how the contracts would affect RTX’s annual revenue guidance or the timing of revenue recognition.
Raytheon’s latest contracts extend its counter-drone technologies to two Middle Eastern customers while supporting additional deliveries to the US Army.
The agreements cover KuRFS radar systems and Coyote interceptors, including equipment for fixed-site and mobile LIDS configurations.
RTX is also investing in production capacity and technological enhancements intended to improve interceptor speed, range and response times.
For investors, the contracts highlight the role of counter-unmanned aircraft systems within Raytheon’s defence portfolio and the potential importance of international orders to future demand.
The financial contribution will depend on contract execution, production schedules and the timing of deliveries, which were not detailed in the announcement.
RTX Corp stock price
| 2 hours | |
| 3 hours | |
| Oct-12 | |
| Oct-12 | |
| Oct-12 | |
| Oct-12 | |
| Oct-12 | |
| Oct-09 | |
| Oct-09 | |
| Oct-09 | |
| Oct-09 | |
| Oct-08 | |
| Oct-08 | |
| Oct-08 | |
| Oct-08 |
Join thousands of traders who make more informed decisions with our premium features. Real-time quotes, advanced visualizations, alerts, and much more.
Learn more about Finviz Elite