TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 3  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raytheon Company
demonstrated its SilentEyes(TM) Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by
ejecting it from an MQ-9 Predator pylon-mounted canister during tests at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

    The tests, conducted in May and June, demonstrated the first capability
toward removing a human from harm's way with a low-cost UAV, while delivering
the same effectiveness. SilentEyes is designed to operate in close proximity
to a potential target to collect clear images so an operator can make
incontestable combat identification and target confirmation.

    The test demonstration was managed by the U.S. Air Force Aeronautical
Systems Center. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. supported the
flight testing. For the tests, SilentEyes was loaded in a canister magazine
similar to the Raytheon AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy launcher and was launched by the
MQ-9 flight crew from the Predator Ground Control Station. Upon release,
SilentEyes deployed its wings, flew autonomously and transmitted target images
with its data link through the MQ-9 data link to the ground control station
for video display and processing. SilentEyes was commanded via the MQ-9 to
alternate waypoints and target locations. SilentEyes was configured with the
Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo Plus flight computer and Raytheon's MicroLight
(TM) data link.

    Raytheon's SilentEyes is a transformational system that can provide
revolutionary or asymmetric advantages to the war fighter. SilentEyes has been
designed to be affordable and can be quickly customized to perform a variety
of missions.

    SilentEyes' capabilities include performing confirmation identification
for both stationary and moving targets, reducing the time to find, fix, track,
target, engage and assess targets and to execute attack. The capability also
will provide confirmatory identification when no manned assets have access to
denied areas and will complement sensors on tactical manned and unmanned
platforms with autonomous, air-launched sensors.

    Spiral development of technology and technology spin-on can expand
SilentEyes' capabilities to address other areas in the find-fix-track-target-
engage-assess loop. Spiral development could include scaling and integrating
SilentEyes with various payloads for deployment off the full range of strike
aircraft, UAVs and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles.

    Raytheon developed and integrated emergent technologies into the
SilentEyes air vehicle design and demonstrated the air vehicle in mission-
relevant scenarios within nine months of contract award. These demonstrations
showed that Raytheon could provide this capability for less than $15,000 per
unit.

    Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 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 78,000 people worldwide.


  Contact:
   Sara Hammond
   520.794.7810


SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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