TUCSON, Ariz., July 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Sonju Industrial Inc. have signed a three-year Department of Defense-sponsored Mentor-Protege Program agreement to work together on several Raytheon programs.

Raytheon Missile Systems will mentor Sonju in the areas of lean manufacturing, information technology, human resources and quality systems.

"This is an excellent opportunity for us to help Sonju become a more valued supplier to Raytheon and the Department of Defense," said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Supply Chain Management. "This agreement will pay benefits to our companies and our customers."

Located in Kalispell, Mont., Sonju Industrial is a small business owned by a disabled veteran. The company provides high-speed precision machining, process coating and assembly services. Under the agreement, Raytheon and Sonju will focus work on Standard Missile-3, Joint Standoff Weapon and the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System.

"We are excited to work with Raytheon and learn from this global company," said Richard Sonju, Sonju Industrial president. "Raytheon's expertise will allow us to grow in many areas, particularly in sales and manufacturing capabilities. Mentor-Protege agreements are highly coveted, and I'm very pleased that we were selected."

The DoD-sponsored Mentor-Protege Program pairs large companies with eligible small businesses to enhance the proteges' capabilities. The program enables small businesses to successfully compete for larger, more complex prime contract and subcontract awards. In 2007, Raytheon subcontracted more than $1.8 billion of work to small and diverse businesses.

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 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 Patterson
  520.794.4559
  john_b_patterson@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: John Patterson of Raytheon Company, +1-520-794-4559,
john_b_patterson@raytheon.com

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