TEWKSBURY, Mass., Oct. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has entered into an agreement with a leading Turkish defense systems manufacturer for the codevelopment of a major end item for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System. Under the agreement, Raytheon will subcontract to Aselsan of Ankara, Turkey, the codevelopment of the antenna mast group for Patriot Configuration-3 systems for the United Arab Emirates.

"Aselsan is Raytheon's first major trans-Atlantic partner selected to codevelop a Patriot major end item," said Tom Kennedy, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "With its track record, technical expertise and location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Aselsan is ideally suited to be an international Patriot supplier and help serve our 12 partner nations that have chosen the combat-proven Patriot as a key component of their air and missile defense programs."

Aselsan, working with subcontractors throughout Turkey, Europe and the U.S., will coordinate and perform the work at its Ankara facility.

Raytheon IDS is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.

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