TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 11, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded a $54 million Missile Defense Agency contract to continue design and development of a Multiple Kill Vehicle. MKV-R, as it is known, will counter complex ballistic missile threats during the midcourse phase of flight with multiple kill vehicles launched from a single interceptor.

"Raytheon is the only company that has designed, developed and deployed exoatmospheric kill vehicles for the Ballistic Missile Defense System," said Frank Wyatt, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Naval Weapon Systems. "This contract award establishes Raytheon as the prime contractor for the development of the MKV-R and as the systems integrator for the MKV-R payload."

MKV-R consists of several identical kill vehicles with the same capabilities and flexibility. One kill vehicle serves as the engagement manager by communicating battlespace information to the BMDS, simultaneously assigning targets and providing kill assessment.

All kill vehicles have the same capability to autonomously track and intercept threats with hit-to-kill accuracy, providing redundancy and eliminating the risk of single point failure.

"With more than two decades of kill vehicle experience, Raytheon is the industry leader in design, development and production," said Wyatt. "We are leveraging our expertise to develop the multiple-kill concept."

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.

Note to Editors:

This contract award was originally announced by the Department of Defense Oct. 31, 2008

  Raytheon's missile defense hit-to-kill successes:

  Standard Missile-3                      Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle
  Jan. 25, 2002                           Oct. 2, 1999
  June 13, 2002                           July 13, 2001
  Nov. 21, 2002                           Dec. 3, 2001
  Dec. 11, 2003                           March 15, 2002
  Feb. 24, 2005                           Oct. 14, 2002
  Nov. 17, 2005                           Sept. 1, 2006
  June 22, 2006                           Sept. 28, 2007
  April 26, 2007
  June 22, 2007
  Nov. 6, 2007
  Dec. 17, 2007
  Feb. 20, 2008 (satellite intercept)

   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/