The multi-agency programme, called e-Borders, will make checks on every passenger and crew member coming to and from the UK by air, sea and rail.
With a pilot currently underway, Home Office officials hope to roll the scheme out fully within two years.
“We are delighted to have been appointed to this prestigious contract and look forward to working closely with the Home Office to deliver an integrated, secure border for the 21st century,” said Brian McKeon, president and managing director of Raytheon.
The company will be responsible for systems integration, travel services and the overall management of the project.
A consortium of companies, working under the name ‘Trusted Borders’, will help Raytheon to deliver the project. Ninety-five per cent of the work will be done in the UK.
The Trusted Borders team hope that by collecting and analysing data before people travel, they will be able to identify those involved in abuse of UK immigration laws, serious and organised crime and terrorism.
Project Semaphore, the programme’s “de-risking pilot”, already captures passenger information from some carriers on routes that have been identified as high risk.