TEWKSBURY, Mass., March 31, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) has successfully completed Orbit preliminary design review (PDR), a key milestone in the U.S. Army program that will provide a critical cruise missile defense capability for our nation's protectors.

The four-day Orbit PDR thoroughly reviewed all aspects of JLENS design maturity and confidence. The PDR is a key milestone in the $1.4 billion system design and demonstration (SDD) contract under which two JLENS Orbits are being delivered. System testing is scheduled to begin in 2010 with SDD program completion in 2012.

JLENS provides long-duration, wide-area, over-the-horizon detection and tracking of incoming cruise missiles while also supplying the battlefield commander with situational awareness and elevated communications capabilities to provide sufficient warning to enable air defense systems to engage and defeat threats.

Each JLENS Orbit consists of two systems: a surveillance system and a fire control system, which includes an elevated long-range surveillance radar and an elevated high- performance fire control radar. Each radar is integrated onto a large aerostat connected by a tether to the ground-based mobile mooring station and communications processing group.

"We've progressed on schedule and within budget in a very rapid and disciplined manner since SDD was awarded only 14 months ago," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "The success of Orbit PDR affirms that JLENS is ready to move forward with detailed design."

"JLENS provides a key capability to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Stephen Wilhelm, JLENS product manager, U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space. "Orbit PDR is the latest in a string of rapid fire milestone successes for the JLENS program and continues to reaffirm our confidence that this critical cruise missile defense capability is on track to be provided to our warfighters as planned."

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace 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 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning more than 85 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 72,000 people worldwide.

   Contact:
   Maureen Heard
   339.645.6664

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Maureen Heard of Raytheon Company, +1-339-645-6664

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