TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 6  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE:
RTN) has received a $158 million contract for continued production of AIM-9X
Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and support materials.  The
contract includes 443 all-up-round AIM-9X tactical missiles, 153 AIM-9X
training missiles and support equipment.  The award was made by the U.S. Naval
Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.

    "The awarding of our first full rate production contract is a significant
achievement for the AIM-9X program.  I am extremely proud of the AIM-9X team's
accomplishments in providing the U.S. warfighter and our allies with the
world's finest short range missile," said Navy Capt. Scott Stewart, the Naval
Air Systems Command program manager for Air-to Air missile systems.

    "Achieving full rate production is further testimony to the superb
performance of the U.S. government-Raytheon Missile Systems team.  We remain
committed to the on-schedule, on-cost delivery of AIM-9X, the next-generation
Sidewinder that has truly changed the rules of air combat," said Brock Mc
Caman, acting vice president for Raytheon Missile Systems Air-to-Air product
line.

    The AIM-9X is a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force program.  It is the
newest member of the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range missile family in use by
more than 40 nations.  AIM-9X capabilities include high off boresight
acquisition and launch in high clutter and infrared countermeasures
environments and extreme agility for "first shot, first kill" dogfight air
dominance.  The AIM-9X program successfully completed OPEVAL (operational
evaluation) in November 2003 and was approved for full rate production in May
2004.  Work will be performed at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz.,
and is to be completed in April 2007.  Other nations that have selected AIM-9X
include Switzerland, Poland, Denmark and South Korea.

    Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader
in defense and government electronics, space, information technology,
technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.  With
headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.

  Contact:
   Alan D. Fischer
   520.794.1211


SOURCE: Raytheon Company



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