PARIS, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and its international partners will introduce a new ground-based Evolved SeaSparrow Missile at the Paris Air Show. The ground-based ESSM features multi-use capabilities for both naval and land-based applications.

"Raytheon Missile Systems and its global industrial partners are working to expand ESSM into the ground-based air defense (GBAD) mission area," said Royal Netherlands Navy Capt. Paul Rouffaer, deputy project manager of the NATO SeaSparrow project office. "The flexibility and versatility of ESSM is demonstrated by its ability to provide ship self defense and GBAD."

ESSM represents more than four decades of technology and design improvements by an international cooperative partnership composed of 12 nations, 10 of which employ ESSM.

"The ESSM program is an excellent example of how Raytheon works through international partnerships to meet the warfighter's needs across multiple platforms," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Naval Weapon Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. "By expanding the capabilities of ESSM, we extend the performance of this proven weapon throughout the warfighting community."

ESSM will soon join the many ground-based weapons in Raytheon's portfolio of complementary air defense solutions.

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.

For more on Raytheon's presence at the 2011 Paris Air Show please visit http://www.raytheon.com/media/parisair2011/ for multimedia downloads, features, technology spotlights and company news. Journalists may also follow Raytheon Company updates from the show on Twitter @raytheoncompany.

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SOURCE Raytheon Company