Raytheon awarded $3.3b Patriot pact

Raytheon Co., the world's largest missile maker, won a $3.3 billion order to provide Patriot missiles, launchers, and related equipment to the United Arab Emirates.

The United States has approved the sale, the Waltham-based company said in a statement yesterday.

Raytheon is the lead contractor for the Patriot air and missile defense system, and will also supply Patriot GEM-T missiles.

The UAE first requested up to $9 billion in Patriot gear in December 2007. The actual purchase order for the foreign military sale came yesterday through the US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., the statement said.

Raytheon had sales of $21.3 billion last year, of which 20 percent came from the integrated defense systems group that makes Patriot.

Raytheon shares fell 29 cents to $50.20 in New York Stock Exchange trading.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed, the world's biggest defense company, makes the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 or PAC-3 missiles.

Those missiles aren't covered by yesterday's award.