EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 24, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has successfully completed a key satellite payload trade study with Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System.

Results of the study may be used to enhance the performance of follow-on satellites, improving their capacity to provide timely midcourse tracking data and report missile attacks. The Missile Defense Agency plans to develop and maintain a small constellation of satellites to detect enemy missiles through all phases of flight.

Building on its successful demonstrator payload design, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems seeks to provide system architecture and sensor upgrades for the satellites. Advanced demonstrator payloads developed by SAS consist of an acquisition and a tracking sensor and a processing subsystem for integration into STSS satellites. Raytheon's early warning technology permits acquisition and tracking above and below the horizon.

"The important work we do today to further leverage the technical capabilities of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System sensors will help strengthen our nation's missile defense capabilities far into the future," said Brian Arnold, vice president for the Space Systems group of SAS.

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems is a leading provider of sensor systems giving military forces the most accurate and timely actionable information available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2007 revenues of $4.3 billion and 12,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. Additional facilities are in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.

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:
   John Barksdale
   310.647.8224
   john_barksdale@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: John Barksdale of Raytheon Company, +1-310-647-8224,
john_barksdale@raytheon.com

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