$30 million for Alcoa

has signed a five-year contract with

, a supplier of finish-machined parts to Raytheon, to manufacture high-strength aluminium structural castings for US Navy Tomahawk missiles. The contact is valued at nearly $30 million.

"This program has given us an opportunity to demonstrate the value of the aluminium-investment-casting process for critical defence applications, while also showcasing our ability to provide cost-effective, high-strength missile components in aluminium and titanium," said Joseph Haniford, Vice President and General Manager of Alcoa Forged Products and Aluminum Castings.

"We are now supporting the full-rate production phase of this program with four major structural parts, with deliveries scheduled through 2009.”