MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 14, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Army recently completed successful testing of the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency, or AEHF, satellite communications production terminals.

Raytheon's Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) offers the next generation of protected communications with AEHF satellites. It is the first AEHF system across the U.S. Armed Services to enter production and achieve this first article testing milestone, verifying that it meets all performance, function and production requirements.

The testing follows Raytheon's $97.5 million contract to produce and install AEHF upgrade kits that increase the data rate of existing SMART-T systems four fold. The award, which is part of an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract originally awarded in 2007, increases the total value to $290 million.

"With the cancellation of the Transformational Communications Satellite system, AEHF solutions are more critical than ever," said Jerry Powlen, vice president, Network Centric Systems Integrated Communications Systems. "Raytheon has shown its commitment to protected satellite communications by providing key AEHF solutions to the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy."

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 provided 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:

Raytheon also provides AEHF solutions to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. The company was awarded the U.S. Navy's Multiband Terminal contract in May 2007. The award has a combined value during its lifetime in excess of $1 billion. The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network program upgrade contract, valued in excess of $75 million, in January 2008.

    Contact:
    MB Hodgkiss
    781.254.3428

SOURCE Raytheon Company

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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