TEWKSBURY, Mass., Dec. 12, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company achieved a significant milestone as the prime systems integrator for CVN 21, the U.S. Navy's next generation aircraft carrier, with the successful execution of the systems requirements review (SRR).

Raytheon is the CVN 21 program's industry lead for warfare systems engineering and integration of all government furnished combat systems, C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and aviation support systems.

Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) represented the Raytheon-U.S. Navy team and led the review panel of senior U.S. Navy executives through the requirements for a transformational, integrated warfare system to be delivered to CVN 21, demonstrating the program's focus on technology, integration, capability and cost. The review highlighted the system design strategy that will be conducted in parallel with ship construction in order to maximize technology and advancements at the time of ship delivery. With unanimous agreement, the panel commended Raytheon for its performance to date and acknowledged that the team was ready to proceed to the next phase, system functional review, which is scheduled to be complete in October 2006.

"The SRR process is innovative and will allow us to identify risk areas and concerns early, apply system engineering concepts, and ensure that the entire CVN-21 team stays linked together as we go forward. It was a great first step and set the stage for close cooperation and coordination in the future," said Rear Admiral David Architzel, U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer, Carriers.

"Raytheon is leading the industry-government team through the system engineering of an aircraft carrier warfare system that will be better integrated than ever before," said Upinder Dhinsa, IDS' vice president of Naval Integrated Systems. "This system will not only deliver the reliability and capability for mission success, but it will also provide the flexibility and affordability to ensure technical superiority for the life of the ship." As warfare systems integrator for CVN 21, Raytheon will leverage the open architecture and transformational technology advancements achieved as the mission systems integrator on the DD(X) and LPD ship programs. This will further support the application of common technologies and processes across multiple platforms in the U.S. Navy fleet.

Based in Tewksbury, Mass., Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration. With a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. armed forces, Integrated Defense Systems provides integrated air and missile defense and naval and maritime warfighting solutions.

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:
   Carolyn Beaudry
   401.842.3550

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Carolyn Beaudry of Raytheon Company, +1-401-842-3550

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