Raytheon has received a $255m contract from the US Navy for the development and production readiness of its next-generation joint precision approach and landing system (JPALS).
The contract has additional options, which if exercised will bring the total value of the award to $270m.
Under the contract, Raytheon will complete development of the JPALS auto-land capability, which uses the GPS satellite navigation system to provide accurate landing guidance to both manned and unmanned aircraft on aircraft carriers in rough seas.
Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services business president Dave Wajsgras said: "The JPALS solution revolutionises landings for manned and unmanned military aircraft.
"Aviators will be able to trust this technology to provide safe, secure, and reliable landing guidance, at any time of day, in all kinds of weather and environments."
The company will also complete integration of the JPALS technology into F-35 joint strike fighters, the first aircraft to use the technology.
After being operational in 2018, the technology will be used by the US Navy and Marine Corps on the F-35C carrier variant, F-35B short takeoff / vertical landing variant, and the MQ-25A multi-mission unmanned vehicle.
JPALS offers anti-jam protection to ensure mission continuity in hostile environments and can be modified to support operations requiring rapid deployment, or land-based airfields with curved, segmented and specialised approaches.
