DHS awards Raytheon emergency air route contract

The Homeland Security Department has awarded Raytheon a $1.9 million contract to build the Advanced Route Evaluation System (ARES) to analyze air routes to determine the best ones for aircraft to use during an emergency.

The ARES contract was awarded under the Rapid Technology Application program.

Raytheon said ARES assesses factors such as aircraft type, fuel loads and flight routes. It also creates models that simulate the relative vulnerability to terrorist activity of planned flights.

“ARES will help DHS and other government users better align and deploy critical resources and manpower to protect our national assets,” said Dan Boelsche, a DHS program manager.

He said the system will determine high-risk air transportation routes based on threat information received from government sources. “It will help us ensure that the country is prepared should we encounter another national emergency,” he said in a statement.

Raytheon’s team includes Tec-Masters, a small business that provides engineering, information systems technology, logistics support, multimedia and management services. The company’s headquarters is in Huntsville, Ala.

“The company has a wealth of experience with the kinds of technologies, systems and services that can bolster defenses in the global war against terrorism,” said Andy Zogg, Raytheon’s vice president of airspace management and homeland security. “Raytheon is applying its advanced technologies and resources to detect threats, protect lives and respond to disasters.”