TUCSON, Ariz., March 30, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase Raytheon Company's AIM-9X missile. Saudi Arabia is the world's 10th country to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder infrared-guided, air-to-air missile.

"The AIM-9X will provide our Saudi Arabian allies with unparalleled capability, a small logistical footprint and ease of integration onto its existing fighter aircraft," said Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's Air-to-Air Missile program manager. "AIM-9X has demonstrated its reliability during ongoing operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and in extensive user-driven test programs with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force."

Under the agreement, the U.S. government will provide the RSAF an undisclosed quantity of tactical and training AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for its F-15 fighter aircraft.

"The Royal Saudi Air Force truly chose the most affordable and capable within-visual-range air-to-air missile in the world," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "Raytheon has delivered more than 3,000 Block I missiles on cost and ahead of schedule, and we look forward to continuing to do the same for the newest member of the AIM-9X family."

The Royal Saudi Air Force joins the air forces of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States as AIM-9X users.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 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 73,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors:

More than 400 Raytheon employees design and build the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile in Tucson, Ariz., Andover, Mass., and Goleta, Calif.

Hundreds of employees in scores of businesses across the U.S. design and manufacture AIM-9X components. Major suppliers include: Alliant Technology, Rocket Center, W.Va.; Atlantic Inertial Systems, Cheshire, Conn.; Axsys Technology, San Diego; BAE Container Solutions, Longmont, Colo.; Celestica, Austin, Texas; Cristek Interconnects, Anaheim, Calif.; ENSER, St. Petersburg, Fla.; HR Textron, Valencia, Calif.; Klune Industries, Spanish Forks, Utah; L3 Comm, San Diego; L3 KDI Precision Products, Cincinnati.

    Contact:
    Mike Nachshen
    520.794.4088 - office
    520.269.5697 - mobile
    Michael_nachshen@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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