Raytheon
US defence contractor making Patriot missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and air defence radars.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Raytheon supply enough Patriot interceptors to outlast a multi-front war?
Latest on Raytheon
- What is Raytheon?
- Raytheon (now RTX Corporation) is a major US defence and aerospace company, best known for manufacturing the Patriot missile system and Tomahawk cruise missile. It was formed in 2020 by the merger of Raytheon Company and United Technologies.Source: RTX Corporation
- What weapons does Raytheon supply to the Gulf?
- In March 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an emergency waiver for $16.5 billion in Gulf arms sales including Raytheon-built air defence radars for Kuwait ($8 billion) and counter-drone systems for the UAE ($8.5 billion), bypassing normal congressional review.Source: US State Department
- Is Raytheon implicated in Israel war crimes allegations?
- Human Rights Watch warned in 2026 that countries supplying weapons used in Israeli operations in Lebanon risk complicity in potential war crimes including forced displacement and targeting of civilians. Raytheon supplies key systems to Israel.Source: Human Rights Watch
- What is the difference between Patriot and SAMP/T NG?
- Both are NATO-compatible surface-to-air missile systems. Patriot (Raytheon) is the dominant Western standard; SAMP/T NG (Eurosam/Airbus) is a European alternative being tested by France for Ukraine. SAMP/T NG offers 360-degree coverage and a 400 km detection range.Source: French Ministry of Armed Forces
- How much do Raytheon Patriot missiles cost?
- Individual Patriot interceptors (PAC-3 MSE) cost approximately $4 million each. The total daily cost of Operation Epic Fury, which draws heavily on US missile stocks, was calculated by CSIS at nearly $900 million per day, raising concerns about stockpile sustainability.Source: CSIS
Background
Raytheon Technologies (trading as RTX Corporation since 2023) is a major US defence and aerospace company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Formed by the 2020 merger of Raytheon Company and United Technologies, it is best known for the Patriot missile system and the Tomahawk cruise missile, both central to Western air-defence and strike doctrine.
Raytheon equipment is at the heart of the Iran-Israel-US conflict. Marco Rubio issued an emergency waiver in March 2026 bypassing congressional review for $16.5 billion in Gulf arms sales, covering Raytheon-built air defence radars for Kuwait and counter-drone systems for the UAE. Human Rights Watch simultaneously warned that arms suppliers risk complicity in potential Israeli war crimes in Lebanon.
Raytheon faces growing strategic pressure on two fronts: France is positioning the SAMP/T NG as a European alternative to the Patriot for Ukraine, testing it as a ballistic missile interceptor , while the $900 million daily cost of Operation Epic Fury raises questions about how long Western stockpiles can sustain demand.
