The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has awarded defense major Raytheon a contract worth $197 million to supply advanced MS-110 multispectral airborne reconnaissance systems to the Polish Air Force, marking a significant step in Warsaw’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) modernisation.
Under the contract, Raytheon will produce, integrate and provide engineering support for seven MS-110 multispectral reconnaissance pods. Work will be carried out at Raytheon’s facility in Westford, Massachusetts, and is scheduled to be completed by August 2031.
Once the systems are delivered, Poland will become the first NATO member and the fourth air force globally to acquire the MS-110 capability, according to Raytheon. The development strengthens Poland’s ability to conduct high-end ISR missions amid growing security challenges in Eastern Europe.
The MS-110 represents an evolution of Raytheon’s widely used DB-110 dual-band airborne reconnaissance system. While building on the DB-110’s proven operational concept, the MS-110 adds enhanced multispectral sensing, next-generation onboard processing, and artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled analytics.
Dan Theisen, president of Advanced Products and Solutions at Raytheon, said the system pushes “next-generation processing to the tactical edge to defeat camouflage and decoys in near real time.” By capturing imagery across multiple visual and infrared bands with common ground coverage, the MS-110 allows operators to detect, identify and track targets that may be concealed or deliberately masked.
Compared to legacy reconnaissance pods, the MS-110 enables broader area surveillance from longer standoff distances while delivering higher-quality imagery. Its AI and machine learning features allow rapid processing and interpretation of large volumes of data, reducing the time between collection and actionable intelligence.
A key advantage of the MS-110 is its compatibility with existing DB-110 infrastructure. The pod is designed to slot directly into current operational concepts and uses common ground support equipment, easing adoption and reducing training and sustainment burdens.
The MS-110 can be carried by a wide range of platforms, including advanced fighters such as the F-16, F-15, F/A-18 and Gripen. It is also compatible with larger aircraft like the C-130 transport, maritime patrol aircraft, and medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned systems such as the MQ-9.
“This capability empowers the US and our allies to maintain a strategic advantage in an evolving global defense landscape by bolstering survivability, responsiveness and wide-area surveillance,” Theisen said.
