NEW DELHI -- Raytheon Company and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) have submitted an L&T-led proposal to upgrade Indian Army T-72 tanks.

The announcement was made Tuesday at DEFEXPO India 2010 in New Delhi.

Under the proposal, Raytheon will provide infrared imaging sights and electronics to improve target accuracy and increase overall system lethality of T-72 tank battalions. Raytheon has provided more than 20,000 thermal sights in 15 countries.

"Through collaboration with L&T on this important proposal for the Indian Army, we have confirmed the very complementary capabilities leveraged across our companies," said Fritz Treyz, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems India Operations. "Together, we are exploring other opportunities to provide net-centric modernization defense solutions to meet growing demands in India and the global marketplace."

L&T brings a successful track record developing fire control systems across multiple weapon systems for land, naval and air defense applications. With customer support, L&T will perform the final integration of fire control system and sensors on the T-72 tanks.

"L&T is the only Indian company in the private sector that is leading a team for the T-72 upgrade program. The L&T and Raytheon combination has what it takes to deliver on such an important program," said M. V. Kotwal, senior executive vice president and member of the L&T board of directors. "This will lead to new joint opportunities in the Indian and global defense markets."

Larsen & Toubro is an $8.5 billion technology, engineering and construction group with global operations. It is one of the largest and most respected companies in India's private sector.

A strong, customer-focused approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business for more than seven decades.

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.