WALTHAM, Mass., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will invite 50 of its Twitter followers to participate in a day of activities at the Farnborough International Airshow on Friday, July 13. Raytheon opened registration to interested Twitter followers at noon EDT on Tuesday, May 22, and it will remain open until noon Friday, May 25.

The Tweetup will provide Raytheon's social media followers with access to the airshow via Raytheon's viewing platform at Farnborough. The Farnborough International Airshow is a global event that brings together companies from the aerospace, defense, space and security sectors to showcase and demonstrate aircraft, equipment and technologies. It is one of the largest, most diverse gatherings of the international aviation community in the world.

Participants in the Raytheon Tweetup at Farnborough will have a prime viewing of champion student rocketeers from France, the United Kingdom and the United States as they compete in an international flyoff. Raytheon, a sponsor of the competition, is underwriting the participation of the Madison, Wis., West High School team, which won the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) finals in Virginia May 12. Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry, this year's TARC contest involved students from 48 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Farnborough is one of the most thrilling events in aviation," said Pam Wickham, Raytheon's vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications. "For years we've used the energy of Farnborough, along with AIA's rocketry competition, as a way to promote math and science education. This year, we're expanding that effort by inviting aviation enthusiasts to share in the excitement."

The Raytheon Tweetup at Farnborough on July 13 takes place on "Futures Day," using one of the world's most thrilling aerospace venues as an exciting opportunity to demonstrate how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects have a direct impact on the real world today and tomorrow.

Raytheon continues its commitment to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by allowing Tweetup registrants to sign up with a young guest aged 11-21.

"What better way to encourage these young future engineers than by giving them the thrill of a lifetime at the airshow?" Wickham said.

For Tweetup registration and information, visit: http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/feature/rtn12_fiatweetup. Anyone can follow the activities using the hashtag #meetRay and following @Raytheon and @MathMovesU.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 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. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contact
Kristyn Lao
+1.781.522.5126
corporatepr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company