TEWKSBURY, Mass., May 29, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) deployed a system to provide enhanced security and situational awareness support during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 May 24.

The system, operational throughout the Indy 500 weekend, was used to demonstrate and identify opportunities to augment security operations and communications in support of the largest, single-day sporting event in the world.

It consisted of a 17-meter (approximately 56-foot) aerostat equipped with a sensor package that relayed real-time information to the command center within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The system's primary payload is an electro optical-infrared sensor and can be complemented with other stand-alone capabilities, such as radio frequency data and video transmission, acoustic detection, flash detection and elevated communications relay.

The system is similar to the combat-proven systems currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan that provide security to warfighters, further enhancing both the foreign and domestic components of national security.

The demonstration was conducted as a joint effort with Indy Racing League (IRL), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), the University of Southern Mississippi's National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), and TCOM. The demonstration provided the IRL and IMS security teams enhanced situational awareness throughout the weekend events. This capability allowed the security teams to identify and respond quickly to safety and security incidents if they had occurred.

"We continue to explore opportunities to apply Raytheon's proven technology and capabilities to provide affordable solutions for our customers, including the event and spectator security arena," said Lee Silvestre, vice president of Mission Innovation for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Working with our partners from NCS4, IRL and IMS, we identified areas where our solutions can enhance current event security processes and systems to provide a safer, more secure atmosphere for spectators and participants."

"Indy Racing League is committed to world-class safety for our drivers and our fans," said Charles Burns, director of Corporate Security for Indy Racing League. "Conducting this demo with Raytheon gives us the opportunity to evaluate new and innovative technology that keeps our venues safe and optimizes the racing experience for our fans."

In addition to demonstrating the system's capabilities to the IMS security forces, this test also served as an opportunity for Raytheon and NCS4 to apply process information to the development and evolution of the national lab.

"Through this demo, Raytheon is playing a role in establishing a national lab focused on sports security and critical infrastructure management," said Louis Marciani, director of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security. "The fact that Raytheon could demonstrate this aerial surveillance technology during an event like the Indianapolis 500 will help NCS4 establish methodologies and protocols to assess future sports security manufacturers for the national lab."

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

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.

    Contact:
    Michele Lemos
    978.858.5850

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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