NATO's missile command-and-control system is to be modernized by ThalesRaytheonSystems under a contract worth more than $105 million.

The upgrades will strengthen and expand the functions of the alliance's current missile defense command-and-control system and allow the alliance to link national sensors and interceptors with NATO's Air Command at Ramstein Air Base Germany.

"The execution of this contract will be a major step forward for NATO's missile defense," said Koen Gijsbers, NATO Communications and Information Agency general manager. "This contract further merges two of NATO's largest common funded investments -- air and missile defense -- paving the way for an integrated approach."

Thales said the project will involve 15 industry partners from eight countries and will be completed by 2018.

The modernization project will be rolled out in three steps, with the final step offering an integrated single software baseline able to support both air and missile defense but additional information was not disclosed.