Raytheon Awarded $64.8 Million to Upgrade Jordanian M60 Main Battle Tank Fire Control System

IMRA ^ | April 16, 2004 | Raytheon Co

[yonif]

(Source: Raytheon Co.; issued April 15, 2004) [With thanks to www.defense-aerospace.com ]

RESTON, Va. --- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $64.8 million contract by the Jordan armed forces to upgrade their M60A3 main battle tanks with Raytheon's Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS).

Raytheon will manufacture and test 82 IFCS upgrade kits in Indianapolis and will provide technical assistance to Jordan armed forces personnel during the installation in Jordan. Spares and depot-maintenance equipment to establish a limited depot-support capability in Jordan will also be provided under this contract.

Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC) has been working with Jordan's King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) for the past three years on its Phoenix Level 1 IFCS upgrade and Level 2 lethality upgrade efforts for the M60 main battle tank, a program designed to incrementally increase the M60's operational capability. Through that effort, one battalion has been fitted with this upgrade capability and deployed and is in-service with the Jordan armed forces; a second battalion is currently being outfitted with the upgrade. More than 2,000 rounds have already been successfully fired using the Phoenix Level 1 upgraded tanks.

"With this award, Jordan armed forces will fully equip their entire fleet of M60A3 main battle tanks," said Jim Blum, program manager for fire control systems at RTSC. "This upgrade improves the M60's firepower capability and survivability by offering a significant improvement in first-round hit capability."

"This award is the result of a very successful teaming with Jordan's KADDB," added Keith Harmon, RTSC vice president and general manager of the Indianapolis business unit. "Raytheon will be providing IFCS maintenance training to the Jordanian personnel and their work force will be doing the actual installation work, providing jobs in the country. Through these and future activities, Raytheon is working with KADDB to contribute to Jordan's economic development. For us, it provides an opening to advance the sale of the IFCS upgrade throughout the Middle East region."

The IFCS modernization resolves the logistics problems and increased obsolescence issues the M60 main battle tank's existing fire-control system experiences. The pre-upgrade sight system technology also limits the accuracy and the mobility of the tank. The IFCS upgrade provides the M60 with a true shoot-on-the-move capability, a significant improvement in performance.

"Raytheon is committed to assisting KADDB in achieving its goals for the defense and economic development of Jordan," said Bryan J. Even, a vice president of Raytheon Company and president of Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC. "We recognize the high level of trust that the Jordan armed forces has demonstrated with this and previous awards for Raytheon to equip their entire fleet of M60A3 main battle tanks. We look forward to many future opportunities through which we can develop the relationship and apply Raytheon's expertise to KADDB and Jordan Armed Forces' requirements."

KADDB is the Jordanian governmental research, design and development facility created to provide one-stop solutions for the supply of defense and commercial products and equipment optimized for the requirements of the Middle East.

Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC provides technology solutions for defense, federal and commercial customers worldwide. It specializes in customized engineering services; logistics and supply chain management; training; and science, research and technology.

Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.

IFCS, a full director fire control and stabilized synchronized cannon sighting system, features an advanced forward-looking infrared thermal sight, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a digital ballistic computer and an improved turret stabilization system. Operational performance enhancements provided include improved surveillance and target acquisition during moving engagements; faster and more precise multiple target engagement capability; long-range precision shooting; reduced ammunition consumption with more kills per combat load; and improved system performance.

[yonif]

Jordanian Sermon:"O God, destroy your enemies, the Jewish and crusader enemies of Islam"

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims, elevate justice and Islam, and disappoint infidels and criminals." He goes on: "O God, destroy Muslims' enemies, for they are within your power."

[stuartcr]

Maybe they will fix it so it won't shoot the good guys.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Right now, democrat operatives are searching Raytheon's stockholder list to see if any of Bush or Cheney's third cousins owns more than one hundred shares.

[Shryke]

Jordanian M60's are not going to be doing much against Israeli helicopters and jets. Except exploding.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Yep, these will pretty much take care of any upgrade

+

[Wiggins]

I just hope that these so called improvements have a kill switch or something so that they can be shut off or un-installed when it becomes necessary. Maybe even a self destruct program.

[Red6]

Jordan has proven itself an ally of the US. It has had good relations with Israel for years and as an Arabic state it is one of the most western and moderate ones. It supports the war on terrorism. Iraq war played a part in supporting the coalition effort even in the last war. They didn't want it, but when push came to shove they played a part in supporting the US where they could while minimizing the political damage within their own country.

Why are you guys so harsh on them?

[Wiggins]

I'm not harsh on them. I just hope they install a kill switch or self destruct mechanism, just in case.