Air Force to upgrade weather reporting toolkit

Raytheon Co. will assist the Air Force improve its next-generation weather systems under a $21.8 million contract.

The award calls for the company to modify the Joint Environmental Toolkit (JET) program that provides environmental intelligence and specific network-centric solutions to support military personnel on bases and during deployed operations.

The system assists the military’s decision making by linking command and control systems with integrated terrestrial and space environmental information, according to a Raytheon statement of June 2.

The Increment 2 contract focuses on the integration, consolidation, extension and potential replacement of existing and evolving meteorological operational capabilities, the statement said.

JET is Web-enabled and uses display systems for regional and base units, making it easier to access information. The system also alerts users to environmental changes that could affect operations.

Weather forecasters also get benefits from JET’s robust rules engine and its central repository that automates routine processes.

The award was made by the Electronic Systems Center of the Air Force Materiel Command at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

JET engineering development and integration is based at Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems’ site in Omaha, Neb.

Raytheon is based in Waltham, Mass.