GOLETA, Calif., May 14, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $19.8 million contract for continued production of its ALE-50 line of towed decoys.

The award by the U.S. Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center represents the 13th production lot of ALE-50 decoys, which are used by the Navy as well as the Air Force. The contract calls for 807 decoys for the Air Force to be delivered through April 2011.

"The performance of our ALE-50 decoy is second to none," said Roy Azevedo, deputy vice president for Raytheon's Tactical Airborne Systems business area. "It is an important part of Raytheon's advanced complement of integrated avionics that help control the battlespace."

Production of ALE-50 equipment began in December 1996. Completion of the Lot 13 program will bring the total number of decoys produced by Raytheon to 26,489.

Towed decoy systems enhance aircraft survivability by acting as preferential targets for many types of missiles. Raytheon's ALE-50 system has played a key role in aircraft self-protection for several military conflicts and currently equips F-16, B-1B and F/A-18 aircraft.

Work on the towed decoy system is being done by the company's Space and Airborne Systems business at its Tactical Airborne Systems facility in Goleta.

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.

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/149999.html

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/742575 .html