DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 15, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. government executed separate Letters of Offer and Acceptance with three of its key allies to purchase Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The three countries, in the order they signed their LOAs, are Kuwait, Morocco and Jordan.

"The AIM-120C-7 provides unparalleled air combat and air defense capabilities," said Col. Michael Andersen, commander of the U.S. Air Force's 328th Armament Systems Group. "By equipping our allies with the AIM-120C-7 through the Foreign Military Sales program, the U.S. government strengthens regional security and promotes coalition interoperability."

The three countries will receive an undisclosed quantity of missiles for use in both air-to-air and air defense missions.

"No other missile in production or in development can match AMRAAM for lethality, reliability and overall affordability for the entire life cycle of the missile," said Jim Knox, Raytheon's AMRAAM program director. "AMRAAM, in both the air-to-air and surface-launch applications, is the weapon of choice to protect the people, critical infrastructure and resources of our Arab allies."

AMRAAM gives the warfighter flexibility because it can be quickly transferred from a fighter aircraft to a missile launcher to fulfill its air defense role. Using one missile for two critical missions gives the warfighter a cost-effective logistics and maintenance solution.

AIM-120C-7 has been integrated on the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, Typhoon and the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. It is also the baseline missile for the U.S. Army's Surface Launched-AMRAAM and the NATO-approved Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.

AMRAAM has more than 1.7 million captive-carry hours and more than 2,400 live firings.

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.

Note to Editors:

Raytheon's AMRAAM program provides more than 1,000 jobs in Andover, Mass., Farmington, N.M., McKinney, Texas., and Tucson, Ariz.,

Scores of Raytheon suppliers associated with the AMRAAM program provide employment to hundreds of people across the U.S.

Major suppliers include: Alliant Tech Systems, Keyser, West Va.; Atlantic Inertial Systems, Cheshire, Conn.; B-K Manufacturing, Clayton., Ala.; Eagle Pitcher, Joplin, Mo.; Fairview Machine, Topsfield, Mass.; Flexible Circuits, Inc., Warrington, Pa.; General Dynamics, Anniston, Ala.; Hi-Rel, Claremont, Calif.; Kaman Aerospace, Middletown, Conn.; L3 Communications- Electron Devices, San Carlos, Calif.; L3-IEC, Anaheim, Calif.; Litton, Salt Lake City, Utah; Midcon, Joplin, Mo.; M/A-COM, San Jose, Calif.; OECO, Portland, Ore.; REMEC, San Diego, Calif.; Storm, Woodbridge, Ill.; TTM, San Diego, Calif.; Trak Microwave, Tampa, Fla.; UPCO, Fairfield, Calif.

    Contact:
    John Patterson (Dubai)           Mike Nachshen (Tucson)
    +1.520.440.2194                  +1.520.794.4088 (office)
    John_B_Patterson@raytheon.com    +1.520.269.5697 (cell)
                                     Michael_Nachshen@raytheon.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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