DULLES, Va., April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has received a one-year extension to its contract with the National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). The award is worth approximately $157 million through March 31, 2012.

RTSC's Raytheon Polar Services Company (RPSC) has been under contract to the NSF to provide logistics, operations, and maintenance support to sustain year-round research programs at three U.S. stations and two science vessels in the Antarctic since 2000.

"We are excited to continue working with the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs in support of Antarctic research," said RTSC President John D. Harris II. "I had the opportunity to visit some of the USAP facilities on 'the Ice' earlier this year, and I am proud of the accomplishments of our employees in that harsh and challenging environment."

U.S. research in the Antarctic ranges from the effects of climate change on the sensitive ecosystem to studies on penguin populations and the geological processes of an active volcano.

RPSC has approximately 350 full-time employees and hires up to another 1,000 seasonal employees to work in Antarctica during the summer and winter seasons for a wide variety of occupations, including heavy equipment operators, mechanics, computer technicians, mountaineers, and many others.

"Our employees are eager and ready to continue to support the NSF research mission in Antarctica, providing the same high level of support we have been committed to for the last 11 years," said RPSC program manager Sam Feola.

Raytheon Company, with 2010 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 89 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 72,000 people worldwide.

www.raytheon.com

Contact:
Keith Strubhar
571.250.3388

SOURCE Raytheon Company