PARIS, June 12, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed a preliminary design review of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer. The MALD-J™ adds radar-jamming capability to the basic MALD platform.

"The PDR confirmed our design approach for MALD-J is technologically sound," said Ken Watson, the U.S. Air Force's MALD program manager. "I've cleared the MALD-J team to proceed with final design activities and prepare for a critical design review by early 2010."

MALD is a state-of-the-art, low-cost flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles). MALD-J recently completed captive carry testing.

Raytheon is scheduled to conduct a MALD-J free-flight demonstration by late 2009 and begin engineering manufacturing development in 2010. A milestone C decision - the decision to go into production - is expected in early 2011.

"The modular MALD-J will give the warfighter expendable stand-in jamming capability," said Scott Muse, Raytheon's MALD program director. "MALD-J will reduce or eliminate the need to send aircrews into harm's way to conduct jamming missions."

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 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 73,000 people worldwide.

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In November 2008, Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine named Raytheon's MALD the winner of the 2008 Program Excellence Award in System Research and Development.

More than 125 Raytheon employees design and build the MALD and MALD-J in Tucson, Ariz.; Goleta, Calif.; and El Segundo, Calif.

Hundreds of employees in scores of businesses across the U.S. design and manufacture MALD and MALD-J components. Major suppliers include: AUSCO, Port Washington, N.Y.; BAE, Berthoud, Colo.; CEI, Sacramento, Calif.; Celestica, Austin, Texas; Eagle Pitcher, Joplin, Mo.; EDO, Bohemia, N.Y.; Enser, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Engineered Fabrics Corp, Rockmart, Ga.; GDOTS, Redmond, Wash.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, Rockford, Ill.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, San Diego; LaBarge, Joplin, Mo.; Moog, East Aurora, N.Y.; Tecom, Westlake Village, Calif.

    Contact:
    Paris                             U.S.
    Mike Nachshen                     J. Nicole Stewart
    +1.520.269.5697                   520.794.7810
    parismedia@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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