Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Arizona - a leading U.S. weapons manufacturer - has joined Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace of Norway and Ericsson Microwave Systems of Sweden to bid on a missile defense system for Estonia. This competition, for a "very short range air defense missile system", is expected to be decided in August of this year.
 
Raytheon, the main contractor of this bid will provide the missiles, launchers and the missile system integration. Kongsberg will provide the command control communications, computers and intelligence systems. Ericsson will deliver tracking and surveillance radar systems.
 
Estonia made the tender last year because it realized it had very poor air defense capability.
 
Earlier this year Estonia implemented a very modern radar system that envelops the country on sea as well as the air. The official purpose was to defend Estonia from the terrorism as well as smuggling.
 
Currently Estonia has an Israeli missile system which seems to be in need of replacement.
 
"We have assembled a team of defense leaders to provide the Estonian Ministry of Defense with a competitive bid that delivers a decisive advantage," said Jim Riley, Vice President of Raytheon.
 
Raytheon is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, business and special purpose aircraft. It has billings of US $21.9 billion and hires 80,000 staff worldwide.
 
Raytheon has 35 years of experience in precision guided bomb development. Its products are used by 35 allied countries. 8,700 Raytheon aircraft launched missiles have been dropped in Iraq, where they are the most used projectile.
  

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