PARIS, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the Norwegian defense company NAMMO are in the process of qualifying an alternate rocket engine for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. The new motor will be interchangeable with the AMRAAM propulsion system and will maintain the same performance as the current one.

"A second source of rocket motors ensures Raytheon will meet its commitment to the U.S. and allied warfighter by providing an uninterrupted supply of the world's most capable beyond-visual range air-to-air missile," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line. "Our partnership with NAMMO leverages Raytheon's decades of experience partnering with European businesses to build and deliver reliable and capable systems."

The U.S. Air Force, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Innovation Norway, Raytheon and NAMMO Raufoss AS share financing for non-recurring costs associated with the qualification program.

"NAMMO has a rich history of producing rocket motors for air-to-air missiles and has delivered more than 40,000 rocket motors for the Sidewinder program alone," said Ola Skrivervik, NAMMO's senior vice president of Business Development. "The AMRAAM qualification program is progressing rapidly and with great success."

Procured by 36 countries, the combat-proven AMRAAM has more than 1.8 million captive-carry hours and more than 2,900 live firings. AMRAAM is integrated on the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, Harrier, F-4 and the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. It is also the baseline missile for the U.S. Army's Surface Launched-AMRAAM and the NATO-approved Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.

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.

NAMMO is a high-tech defense group specializing in ammunition, missile products and demilitarization services. The NAMMO Group has subsidiaries in Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. NAMMO, with the head office located in Raufoss, Norway, has 1,900 employees and annual sales of over $600 million.

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SOURCE Raytheon Company