The Air Force gave Raytheon Co. [RTN] a contract to upgrade guidance and control sections for the air-to-ground Maverick missile.

"The military is successfully employing laser-guided Mavericks against moving targets and in urban environments," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "This contract is a win for the warfighters, because it gives them a reliable combat-proven weapon they can take to war almost immediately."

That contract initiates engineering efforts required to restart the laser-guided Maverick production line and will incorporate state-of-the-art laser-seeker technology. The contract Up to 450 laser Maverick guidance sections will be upgraded for the Air Force and Navy.

Raytheon plans to deliver the first upgraded guidance sections to the Air Force in 20 to 24 months. The contract uses funds from a General Services Administration exchange program. The program provides the latest technology to the U.S. Air Force without affecting normal weapon procurement budgets.