EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has awarded Dalhousie and Memorial Universities grants totaling $500,000 to advance research in the aerospace industry.

Canada's Industrial and Regional Benefits policy requires prime contractors to make investments in the Canadian economy valued at 100 percent of the contract value as an element of defense and security procurements made by Canada. Raytheon's investment with Dalhousie and Memorial Universities is a result of this policy.

"Our government believes it is important that Canadian post-secondary institutions like Dalhousie and Memorial, in addition to our aerospace and defense industry, benefit from these investments," said Industry Minister Tony Clement. "Through our Industrial and Regional Benefits policy, we are supporting research and helping bring new technologies to market."

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, will receive $100,000 for research to determine the effect of thermal interface materials and quantify their properties in severe airborne environments. Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, will receive $400,000 to advance research into remote sensor technology for wake detection.

"Supporting Canadian universities that are clearly advancing aerospace research is a benefit to Raytheon and the industry as a whole," said Scott Jackson, general manager of Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems. "With more than 1,500 employees in Canada, we are committed to our significant education and research partnerships with Canadian industry."

Raytheon's electronic warfare system products are deployed on, or in production for, the Canadian forces' on CF-18 fighter aircraft. As part of the country's CF-18 Hornet upgrade program, Raytheon's participation to date has provided more than $21.5 million in industrial and regional benefits through partnerships with Canadian industry.

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.

www.raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company