Agilent Technologies Inc. announced it was awarded a $12.6 million contract by Raytheon Co. of Tucson, Ariz., to deliver an advanced automated manufacturing test platform.

Raytheon, which said it expects the new platform to provide benefits in cycle time, test equipment utilization and labor content, will initially use the system for functional and diagnostic testing of components within missile guidance systems. The system can be expanded to accommodate new requirements and new test strategies intended to further reduce the overall cost of testing.

“Through this type of collaborative innovation, Raytheon and Agilent are working to help transform our approach to production testing,” said Louise Francesconi, president, Raytheon Missile Systems. “Agilent brings expertise in precise measurement systems and applying their use in an automated setting.”

Using this automated approach, Raytheon plans to replace 17 stand-alone test systems with seven capable of automated testing. Raytheon said it will benefit from Agilent’s internal experience with high-mix/low-volume radio frequency automated manufacturing test under environmental conditions.

For more information, visit: www.agilent.com