DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company has presented the 25,000th AN/PAS-13 Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS) to U.S. Army officials from Program Executive Office Soldier. The milestone marked the success of a 17- month production ramp-up that accelerated delivery of urgently needed equipment to U.S. warfighters in the Middle East.

The Army asked Raytheon in 2004 to double its production rates from 400 to 1,050 units per month and deliver more than 10,000 new TWS systems. The company expanded its facilities, collaborated with suppliers to reduce turnaround time, met the ramp-up target ahead of schedule, and can now deliver more than 1,000 weapon sights per month.

Jointly developed by the U.S. Army and Raytheon, the Army's AN/PAS-13 program comprises a family of advanced thermal imaging sensors that improves soldiers' surveillance, targeting and combat effectiveness day or night, in zero illumination, and in obscurants such as fog, smoke, dust and sandstorms. Based on infrared technology, the TWS family allows U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Special Operations Forces to "own the night." Raytheon is the only government-qualified supplier of AN/PAS-13 light, medium, and heavy weapon sights.

"What is important is the greatly enhanced capabilities the Thermal Weapon Sight gives our soldiers. It is the newest technology that allows our forces, both day and night, to have unparalleled capability to 'see the battlefield,'" said Maj. Gen. Mike Taylor, 36th Infantry Division commanding general. "These devices significantly improve the protection of our soldiers and their ability to accomplish their missions. I personally witnessed the effectiveness of these sights during a visit to my soldiers in Iraq."

Glynn Raymer, vice president of Raytheon Combat Systems, added, "Delivery of these critically needed thermal weapon sights will help our soldiers continue to fight the global war on terrorism, complete their missions safely and return to their families unharmed. It doesn't get more important than that."

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), 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.

Note to editors:

Work on TWS is performed in Dallas and McKinney, Texas; Goleta, Calif.; and Marlborough, Mass.

  Contact:
   Patricia Perlini
   972.952.4033

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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