Raytheon Announces $1.28bn Missile Deal With Oman

US arms maker Raytheon has finalised a contract with Oman for a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile system (NASAMS).

The deal, worth $1.28 billion, includes ground support equipment, a full training package and technical assistance, the company said in a statement.

The contract for NASAMS, which was awarded during the fourth quarter of 2013, was announced at a signing ceremony in the Sultanate.

Raytheon, along with its long-term partner Kongsberg, will supply the system to Oman.

The surface-to-air missile system is already in use in countries such as the US, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain and Finland.

“The Sultanate of Oman’s competitive selection of Raytheon’s National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) validates the superior performance, system adaptability and overall security that NASAMS provides,” said Dan Crowley, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS).

The company has been looking to secure more foreign orders to offset a projected decline in US military spending in the coming decade.

Raytheon’s chief executive William Swanson has previously said the company is hoping to finalise orders worth $4 billion to $5 billion from Middle Eastern countries.

The weapon maker was also in talks with Qatar about a possible missile defense system sale with Kuwait to finalise the sale of additional units by the end of 2013, according to media reports.

Swanson also said that Raytheon is looking to complete deals with new customers in the Middle East.