WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 30, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jon C. Jones, 51, has assumed responsibilities as president, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) effective immediately. He replaces Jack R. Kelble, 62, who will assist in the transition and retire from the company in Feb. 2006.

Jon Jones' distinguished career, his program management expertise and his passion for the customer makes him the right person for the position," said William H. Swanson, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. "Jon's leadership and experience will serve our customers well as we continue to grow our Space and Airborne Systems Business."

Jones has been with the Company for 28 years and has had a variety of leadership roles in Tucson, including vice president and deputy general manager of Raytheon Missile Systems, and vice president of the Missile Systems' Strike product line, with responsibility for the Tomahawk cruise missile, Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) and the Paveway Laser Guided Bomb. He has been vice president and general manager of SAS since May 2005.

"Jack Kelble's many awards and industry recognition are a testament to the respect and regard in which he is held by us all," Swanson said. "We wish him well in retirement."

Kelble culminates a distinguished 40-year career in the defense and electronics industry. He joined Raytheon in 1979 as a program manager in the Equipment Division. He went on to serve in increasingly responsible leadership positions with the Engineering Development Laboratories and Business Management Organization, Data Acquisition Systems, Command, Control and Communications unit, and our Electronic Systems' Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems business segments before becoming president of SAS in 2002.

Raytheon SAS, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., is the leading provider of sensor systems giving warfighters the most accurate and timely information available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2004 revenues of $4 billion and 13,000 employees, SAS has additional facilities in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.

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.

  Contact:
  James Fetig
  781-522-5111

SOURCE: Raytheon

CONTACT: James Fetig of Raytheon, +1-781-522-5111

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