Raytheon Co. delivered the first rapid-development, space-optical payload to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the company announced.

The $14 million ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer) program required Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to develop within 15 months an experimental payload that could help troops identify potential threats on the ground.

While sensor development typically involves years of design, manufacturing and testing, ARTEMIS paves the way for space assets that can be designed and rapidly built to meet an immediate need, according to Raytheon.