CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.,
June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Raytheon's newest payload, a technology package that
improves the availability and accuracy of Global Positioning System
signals for aviation, has launched into orbit for its 12-year
mission.
The Raytheon-developed system is a key element of the Federal
Aviation Administration's Wide Area Augmentation System, which
offers commercial airline and general aviation pilots more direct
flight paths, greater runway capability, precision approaches to
airports and remote landing sites without dependence on local
ground-based landing systems.
"Extremely accurate navigation technologies make this system a
critical resource to keep our national airspace safe," said
Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon
Intelligence, Information and Services. "The launch is a real
milestone, as Raytheon and the FAA work to improve the safety and
efficiency of air travel."
WAAS covers nearly all the national airspace, significantly
improving GPS accuracy from 10 meters to about two meters.
As the original developer of the WAAS system, Raytheon has
partnered with the FAA to continually improve its service area,
availability and reliability. The newest payload, WAAS GEO 5,
replaces a current payload reaching the end of its service life.
Following orbit raising, ground system integration and testing
tasks, the WAAS GEO 5 payload will enter its 10-year service phase
in 2018.
The WAAS GEO 5 payload is hosted on the geostationary satellite
EUTELSAT 117 West B. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX
Falcon 9 launch vehicle on June 15.
The launch was managed by RGNext, a joint venture of Raytheon and
General Dynamics' information technology business.
The FAA maintains three WAAS satellite payloads at all times.
The agency also awarded Raytheon a contract to replace an
additional WAAS GEO payload, which will be launched in the second
quarter of 2017. The GEO 6 system will enter its 10-year
operational phase in 2019.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of
$23 billion and 61,000 employees, is
a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil
government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of
innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art
electronics, mission systems integration,
C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and
mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon
is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.
Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.
www.raytheon.com
Media Contact
Melanie
Plunkett
+1. 571.250.1102
melanie_b_plunkett@raytheon.com
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SOURCE Raytheon Company