TEWKSBURY, Mass., Oct. 28, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received a $9.6 million modification to an existing U.S. Navy contract to serve as the platform systems engineering agent for the Ship Self-Defense System.

In this role, Raytheon integrates complex warfighting improvements with SSDS for various U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious ships. Under this modification, Raytheon will integrate the Dual Band Radar currently in production as part of the Zumwalt-class destroyer program, the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) and Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 to improve the warfighting capabilities of SSDS-equipped ships. Work will include combat systems engineering, software engineering, configuration control, integration and testing.

Other Zumwalt technologies under consideration for reuse include sensor control, Cooperative Engagement Capability adaptation, infrastructure services components and ESSM control software. Components from the Navy's objective open architecture initiative are also being incorporated, including the system track server, the common display system, and common processing system.

"The Ship Self-Defense System has clearly demonstrated the benefits that open architecture technology provides the Navy, including the ability to upgrade system capabilities with relative ease," said Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) Robert Martin, vice president and deputy of Seapower Capability Systems. "The system's high level of capability, affordability and modularity enables the Navy to defend against today's threats while providing the flexibility to adapt to counter the threats of tomorrow."

As platform systems engineering agent, Raytheon manages the integration of combat system capability upgrades into aircraft carrier and amphibious ships while providing continued support for fielded systems. Raytheon recently completed a technology refresh for the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), which included a capability upgrade for the SSDS Mk 2 Open Architecture combat system. These improvements aligned with the Navy's open architecture standards and upgraded Nimitz's core computing technologies.

SSDS is currently fielded on four classes of aircraft carriers and expeditionary ships: LSD, CVN 68, LPD 17 and LHD class. Raytheon plans to install the SSDS Mk 2 Open Architecture upgrade on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), and the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) between 2009 and 2011. Future upgrades are also planned for LPD and LHA-class ships.

Work will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Expeditionary Warfare Center, San Diego, Calif.; Seapower Capability Center, Portsmouth, R.I.; IDS Headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass.; Raytheon Network Centric Systems, St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities 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 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.

    Contact:
    Carolyn Beaudry
    401.842.3550

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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