Raytheon Co. has received a contract from the US Air Force to produce the first airborne tactical hyperspectral sensor system. The Airborne Cueing and Exploitation System Hyperspectral, or ACES HY, is an infrared sensor system developed to identify targets based on their spectral characteristics. The Airborne Cueing and Exploitation System Hyperspectral, or ACES HY, is a sensor system that will be placed on an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system. (Image: PRNewFoto/Raytheon Co.) The company worked with the Air Force in September 2010 to successfully complete flight testing of the sensor system on a manned Twin Otter aircraft used as a surrogate for the MQ-1 Predator unmanned system. Raytheon, the prime systems integrator of the sensor, leads team members from L3 Integrated Optical Systems and Space Computer Corp. in the effort. The ACES HY Program is managed by the US Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems for the defense, homeland security and other government markets. For more information, visit: www.raytheon.com