SCOA Markets Raytheon Systems Products in Japan

SCOA's Aerospace Dept. has served as a defense electronics supplier for Japan's Self Defense Forces (JSDF) since 1969 when it began doing business with the Texas Instruments Defense Systems and electronics Group. Sumitomo proactively continued this relationship when the Group was purchased by Raytheon four years ago, and became known as Raytheon Systems Company. Today, the Aerospace Dept. continues to work with Raytheon transferring appropriate technology to Toshiba Corporation, which integrates the defense technology for JSDF.

In May, 1999 Raytheon Surveillance Systems personnel, executives from Toshiba Corporation, and Sumitomo representatives including Tsuneo Iwasaki, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Machinery & Electric Division, SC, gathered for a 30th year anniversary celebration in Tokyo. Sumitomo co-hosted this event to commemorate the long-term successful business partnership between the three companies.

Working with Raytheon, Toshiba, and Sumitomo Corporation, SCOA's parent company, the Aerospace Dept. supplies several radar systems for JSDF. The APS-134LW radar, developed as a baseline design for Raytheon's Sea Vue family of radars, was co-developed by Raytheon and Toshiba as a lightweight, commercial search and rescue radar for the JSDF.

According to Raytheon's web site, these types of radars are designed to detect small maritime targets in high seas and provide excellent sea search performance. The radar offers a weather detection and avoidance mode, useful for emergency search and rescue operations. This radar system is currently being marketed to the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency, which has a role similar to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Through the SCOA Aerospace Dept., Raytheon and Toshiba also have a licensed production contract for the APS-137B(V)5 Radar, a radar also produced for the U.S. Navy. This radar's capabilities include long-range surface search and target tracking, periscope detection in high seas, ship imaging, and overland surveillance capabilities. Raytheon's site explains that the system was designed for imaging and classifying small, fast-moving vessels that operate close to the shore, as well as for imaging stationary ships and boats. Toshiba is licensed to manufacture up to 70 percent of these radars in Japan.

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