DOWNEY, Calif., Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will dedicate next week one of the largest public safety technology and research centers in Southern California. It will house actual, hands-on solutions that public safety agencies can use to significantly improve day-to-day operations and their responses to major incidents.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Public Safety Regional Technology Center (RTC) in Downey, near Los Angeles, will take place on Monday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Daniel J. Crowley, president of Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business, and public safety experts will deliver remarks and lead discussions on the demonstrations.

A sample of the technologies includes:

• Regional communications: Vendor-neutral communications networks that let first responders connect their existing systems with the latest technologies in both Land Mobile Radios and Long-Term Evolution 4-G broadband solutions.
• Boomerang: A military combat-proven shooter detection system that helps law enforcement immediately locate the source of firearms being discharged.
• Controlled Impact Rescue Tool: Search-and-rescue tool capable of cutting through a reinforced concrete wall up to four times faster than with traditional methods such as drilling, chipping or sawing.

The Public Safety Regional Technology Center will be the only one of its kind in the nation focused solely on developing open architecture and open communications standards for the public safety market, and conducting research to answer public safety's technological needs.

"As a premier systems integrator, Raytheon is constantly partnering with public safety agencies to bring new capabilities and new partners," Crowley said. "We are committed to standards-based, open architecture solutions that allow technologies and devices to operate with others in a unified approach."

"Agencies with stand-alone devices and systems are often hampered in their ability to operate at peak efficiency. With Raytheon's leadership in the marketplace offering interoperable solutions and integration expertise, we can build one cohesive system with many legacy and modern devices. This greatly increases user capabilities and reduces the capital expenditure for new devices," Crowley added.

The technology center builds upon Raytheon's presence in California, where the company has more than 11,000 employees, with all six Raytheon businesses represented in the state. Raytheon has also partnered with the UCLA School of Engineering to create the Public Safety Network Systems Laboratory, which held its first workshop for public safety leaders in December.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2011 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 90 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 71,000 people worldwide. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter at @raytheon.

Media Contact
Peter Ramjug
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ncspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company