The Office of Naval Research has awarded defense contractor Raytheon Co. a $6.9 million, Phase II contract to develop a new class of nanocomposite optical materials, the company announced today. “This contract will further optimize the most promising nanocomposite materials and fabrication methods identified during Phase I,” said Michael Del Checcolo, vice president of engineering for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (Raytheon IDS). This continuation of the DARPA Nanocomposite Optical Ceramics project will be performed over the next 18 to 24 months and is aimed at enhancing missile performance with full infrared transparency, as well as substantially increasing performance, reliability and durability. Raytheon IDS is partnering on the project with Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz.; Nanocerox, Ann Arbor, Mich.; CeraNova, Marlborough, Mass.; CBW TechServices, Framingham, Mass.; the University of California, Davis; Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.; and the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn. Raytheon IDS also announced this week that it has received two Navy contracts worth $90 million combined. For more information, visit: www.raytheon.com