CANBERRA, April 21, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has been selected by the Australian Department of Defence as the preferred bidder for the combat system-system engineer project for the Royal Australian Navy's $4.6 billion ($6 billion Australian) Air Warfare Destroyer program.

Raytheon Australia Managing Director Ron Fisher said: "The announcement of Raytheon Australia as the preferred bidder recognizes Raytheon's mission systems integration expertise. We look forward to working closely with Defence -- particularly the Defence Materiel Organisation -- the ship designer, builder, and the U.S. Navy. We are all aware that the air warfare destroyer program is an important strategic national procurement. Raytheon recognizes this and continues to invest in Australia with skilled development programs across all engineering, financial and program management disciplines as well as active cross-pollination of people from both sides of the Pacific."

Dan Smith, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, Mass., said, "Our excellent record in mission systems integration in Australia and internationally, including the Collins Class Submarines Replacement Combat System, Electronic Warfare Training Services for the Australian Defence Force, and the U.S. Navy's DD(X) destroyers and LPD-17 amphibious ships, will facilitate the transfer of experience and expertise to ensure Australia achieves a world-class capability in its new air warfare destroyers when they enter service over the next decade."

Raytheon Australia is a mission systems integrator providing solutions for the Australian Defence Force in the sea, land and air environments. With more than 1000 people across Australia, Raytheon Australia has a focused engineering and technical workforce, backed up by sound, audited and certified program management and quality processes.

Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

  Contacts:
   Raytheon Australia                 Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
   Nigel Catchlove - 0407 180 170     Guy Shields - 978.858.5246

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/