TEWKSBURY, Mass., June 25, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $6 million contract, if all options are exercised, to develop nano thermal interface materials (nTIM) to improve the thermal performance of advanced defense electronics systems.

This three-phase, 45-month Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program uses engineered nanomaterials to provide significant reductions in the thermal resistance between interface layers found in electronic assemblies. These performance improvements will translate into smaller, lighter, more affordable and more capable defense systems.

"Research into thermal management solutions and technologies will enable future defense systems to have enhanced performance at lower cost," said Michael Del Checcolo, vice president of Engineering for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "The Nano Thermal Interface Materials program draws upon the extensive experience of our team and is focused on application requirements that will provide our warfighters with the most advanced systems possible."

Using its OpenAIR™ business model for assembling talent and capabilities, Raytheon IDS has partnered with a team of experts from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga., to conduct nTIM development. Work for this contract will be performed by Raytheon IDS at the Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass., and the Surveillance and Sensors Center, Sudbury, Mass.

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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