Raytheon has completed the expansion of its radar and electronic warfare systems facility in Mississippi amid an expected increased production orders.

The facility, located in the city of Forest has been enlarged by 20,000 square feet, and an increase in workforce is expected in months ahead.

"Today is an exciting day for Forest and the entire state of Mississippi as Raytheon officially opens its new facility," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. "The company chose to expand here in anticipation of future growth, and now Raytheon is ready to move ahead and pursue even more opportunities and contracts."

Raytheon is the only U.S. producer of combat-proven AESA -- or active electronically scanned array -- radar for tactical aircraft. AESA radars direct their signals electronically toward targets instead of mechanically steering them like older systems. The result: the radar beam is steered at nearly the speed of light, and the new radars can see simultaneously in multiple directions and simultaneously track air and surface targets.

Raytheon said the factory expansion is "part of a new common test platform the company is deploying for all of its electronic warfare systems. Raytheon plans to add a number of new positions over time to keep pace with orders for its Active Electronically Scanned Array fighter jet radars and Sentinel air defense radars."

The Raytheon facility in Forest currently employs about 700 workers.