ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer (MALD-J™) variant completed a major milestone when it passed a U.S. Air Force critical design review (CDR).

MALD^™ is a state-of-the-art, low-cost, decoy flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs less than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles (about 575 statute miles). The MALD-J adds radar-jamming capability to the basic MALD platform.

"The men and women of Raytheon have every right to be proud of achieving this milestone because passing a critical design review is no easy feat," said Ken Watson, the U.S. Air Force's MALD program manager. "The Air Force conducted a rigorous multi-disciplined technical evaluation of the MALD-J and determined MALD-J has reached a technical readiness level 7. MALD-J is preparing to enter the engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase of the program."

Passing the CDR comes on the heels of the completion of the first MALD-J free-flight test. During the December 2009 test, the MALD-J used new software against representative threats.

"The CDR builds on the success of the MALD program and Raytheon's track-record of excellence in program management," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line. "The baseline MALD is currently in production, and we look forward to starting MALD-J EMD soon to meet our 2012 required asset availability commitment to the warfighter."

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 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 88 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 75,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors:

More than 125 Raytheon employees design and build the MALD and MALD-J in Tucson, Ariz.; Goleta, Calif.; and El Segundo, Calif.

Hundreds of employees in scores of businesses across the U.S. design and manufacture MALD and MALD-J components. Major suppliers include: AML Communications, Camarillo, Calif.; AUSCO, Port Washington, N.Y.; BAE, Berthoud, Colo.; CEI, Sacramento, Calif.; Celestica, Austin, Texas; Eagle Pitcher, Joplin, Mo.; EDO, Bohemia, N.Y.; Enser, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Engineered Fabrics Corp, Rockmart, Ga.; GDOTS, Redmond, Wash.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, Rockford, Ill.; Hamilton-Sundstrand, San Diego; LaBarge, Joplin, Mo.; Moog, East Aurora, N.Y.; Tecom, Westlake Village, Calif.

SOURCE Raytheon Company