TEWKSBURY, Mass., June 23, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $76.2 million U.S. Army contract to provide mission sustainment and support for the Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment systems that protect U.S. and coalition forces in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Raytheon first developed RAID to meet the military's increasingly critical need for persistent surveillance in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. RAID consists of infrared sensor systems elevated on a stationary platform. This capability enables U.S. and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threatening situations.

"Critical systems such as RAID must work first time, every time to be effective," said Pete Franklin, vice president of National & Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "This award enables Raytheon to continue providing unparalleled support to our warfighters and reinforces an unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest operational readiness for our soldiers and Marines."

Raytheon IDS will provide engineering services, spares procurement, field service representative training and integrated logistics support services for RAID systems currently deployed. Work will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass., and at the Warfighter Protection Center, Huntsville, Ala.

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 86 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/