McKINNEY, Texas, July 17, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is upgrading the video data link capability for its Advanced Targeting Forward-looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod under a recently announced $10 million award from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

The non-recurring step-one engineering change proposal (ECP) calls for Raytheon to deliver 12 ATFLIR targeting pods (provided by the U.S. Navy) capable of transmitting video via a high-speed and more secure Ku band to ROVER III (Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver) man-portable ground stations.

"Through this new data link capability, the high resolution electro-optic video imagery ATFLIR provides will allow ground commanders to coordinate directly with the aircrew for non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as close air support missions," said Mike Crisp, ATFLIR program manager for Raytheon. "This kind of improvement makes the most of ATFLIR's airborne sensor information as actionable knowledge in support of the ground mission."

Raytheon is required to test the improved pods in flight to demonstrate safety and mission support. The upgrade work will be performed at the company's Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. The company is currently in Lot 2 full rate production and has delivered more than 132 ATFLIR pods to the Navy.

ATFLIR is the Navy's targeting pod of record for the F/A-18 Hornet including Navy and Marine Corps aircraft carrier-based variants. In addition to the ECP award, Raytheon is working with NAVAIR on infrared marker insertion into ATFLIR, which is currently in the flight test and evaluation stages.

Raytheon SAS is the leading provider of sensor systems giving warfighters the most accurate and timely information available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2005 revenues of $4.2 billion and 13,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with additional facilities in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.

Raytheon Company, with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

  Contact                                  At Farnborough
  Dave Desilets                            Faith Jennings
  972.952.2239 office                      310.977.1963
  David_C_Desilets@raytheon.com            Faith_Jennings@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Dave Desilets, +1-972-952-2239 office,
David_C_Desilets@raytheon.com, or Faith Jennings, +1-310-977-1963,
Faith_Jennings@raytheon.com, both of Raytheon Company

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