Agilent Technologies has been awarded a $12.6 million contract by Raytheon, under which Agilent will deliver an advanced, next-generation automated manufacturing test platform. Raytheon expects this platform to provide benefits in cycle time, test-equipment utilization and labor content.

Raytheon will initially use the system for functional and diagnostic testing of components within missile guidance systems. The system can be expanded to accommodate future requirements and test strategies intended to further reduce the overall cost of testing.

Raytheon will benefit from Agilent's internal experience with high-mix/low-volume RF automated manufacturing test under environmental conditions. Using this automated approach, Raytheon plans to replace 17 stand-alone test systems with seven of the automated testing platforms.