TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 23, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Surface Launched Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile successfully completed system field integration testing at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., demonstrating interoperability with both Patriot and Avenger weapon systems.

"Successful integration testing will help put this much-needed air defense capability into our warfighter's hands," said Pete Franklin, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' National & Theater Security Programs. "Interoperability is the key to enhanced situational awareness."

SLAMRAAM demonstrated its ability to form a network of sensor elements tracking live targets and providing each battlefield element with a common air picture with fire quality data. Avenger fire units with Stinger missiles under SLAMRAAM command and control received targeting data directly from the SLAMRAAM system allowing precise slew-to-cue of the gunner turret to targets. SLAMRAAM and Patriot exchanged and displayed unit position and air track data to form a common operational air picture between the two air defense systems.

SLAMRAAM interoperability testing demonstrated that these systems could work together to cover a large battlespace and allow the most appropriate weapon to engage a particular threat. SLAMRAAM also demonstrated the ability to communicate while on the move, maintaining both ground situational awareness and a live air picture at fire units to support hasty emplacement and engagements.

"This was a great collaborative effort from the SLAMRAAM contractor and government team, demonstrating a distributed network in a field environment as we move away from stovepipe systems to a system that is interoperable with other air defense systems," said Susan Christiansen, the Army's SLAMRAAM deputy product manager.

SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art air defense system that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats and a wide range of air breathing threats. It provides the warfighter with a system of highly mobile battlefield elements networked and geographically distributed to provide integrated fire control capability against airborne threats.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

  Contact:
  Maureen Heard
  339.645.6664

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Contact: Maureen Heard of Raytheon Company, +1-339-645-6664

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/