TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 26, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $20.5 million contract to research and develop an automated system for the standoff detection and identification of shielded special nuclear material.

The Integrated Standoff Inspection System, or ISIS, is an active interrogation nuclear radiation detection system that will provide the government with an accurate and reliable inspection system that is fully integrated and automated.

"The need to effectively detect and track the movement of nuclear material increases every day," said Michael Del Checcolo, vice president of Engineering for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "ISIS will enable our government to more effectively identify and classify nuclear materials to help prevent their unauthorized entry into this country."

Raytheon is using its OpenAIR™ business model, leveraging the best of large and small businesses, as well as academia and national laboratories, to develop the best-value solution for DTRA. The Raytheon-led team consists of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M.; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.; Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Advanced Energy Systems, Inc., Medford, N.Y.; Bubble Technology Industries, Chalk River, Ontario; and experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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.

SOURCE Raytheon Company