RTX's Raytheon awarded Mentor Protégé agreements to develop operational AI

Core Insights - Raytheon has been awarded two contracts under the Mentor-Protégé Agreement to mentor Anacapa Micro Products, Inc. and Nara Logics, Inc. in operational AI development for Department of Defense platforms [1][9] - The collaboration aims to enhance decision-making capabilities for servicemen and women by leveraging commercial and defense technologies [6][8] - Raytheon, as part of RTX, reported sales of $69 billion in 2023 and has over 185,000 global employees, focusing on advanced technology solutions in defense and aerospace [3][7] Company Overview - Raytheon is a leading provider of defense solutions, with over 100 years of experience in developing technologies for integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, and advanced sensors [7] - The company is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and operates through industry-leading businesses such as Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney [3] Program Details - The Mentor-Protégé Program, established in 1990, is the oldest continuously operating federal mentor-protégé program, with Raytheon participating since 1991 [4][8] - This program is part of Raytheon's strategy to enhance supplier diversity and small business engagement, aiming to integrate commercial innovations into defense capabilities [8] Leadership Perspectives - Ken Marks, CEO of Anacapa Micro Products, expressed pride in partnering with Raytheon to support next-generation AI development for military applications [2] - Jana Eggers, CEO of Nara Logics, highlighted the importance of the Mentor-Protégé relationship in enhancing technical capabilities for defense and intelligence platforms [10]