raytheon has received a $67.4 million contract modification from U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command for design and engineering support for the Cooperative Engagement Capability sensor-netting system.

CEC is designed to provide early detection and consistent tracking of air threats such as cruise missiles, manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems.

It is based on a high-bandwidth military communications system with electronic countermeasures that blends in the global positioning system.

"This increase in our CEC contract for 2012 underscores a key strategy that we're deploying at raytheon Network Centric Systems," said Pat Speake, NCS's director of Joint Sensor Networking.

"NCS engineers have been engaging the Navy to ensure that the fleet is provided with the newest technology to support their future mission requirements."

raytheon's CEC solution provides battle force protection. It is a high-speed, secure weapons-linked network interconnecting the Navy's sensors in air defense systems across the battle force.

CEC develops the most accurate picture of the airspace possible and helps ensure that the weapons system has the precise continuous targeting necessary for defense.