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Tucson's Raytheon Plant Begins New Air Force Contract

U.S. Air Force defense contractor Raytheon Company will build new medium range air-to-air missiles at its Tucson factory. The contract totals almost $800 million and comes just a week after another contract award for Tucson's largest employer.

The $768 million contract includes a series of advanced medium range missiles, training missiles, guidance sections and production hardware. Equipment produced is then expected to be sold to foreign military services across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

In late December, Raytheon's Tucson plant also started on a U.S. Navy contract for development of its miniature air-launched decoy missiles. That project is estimated at $112 million.

Last summer, Tucson's Raytheon Missile Systems merged with United Technologies, making it the second-largest aerospace and defense company in the U.S. after Boeing.

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Heather van Blokland was a host at KJZZ from 2016 to 2021.