EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 6, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- The worldwide fleet of C-295/CN-235 military transport aircraft has completed 1 million flights as these hardworking battlefield airlifters demonstrate their reliability and versatility in daily service with NATO coalition forces and other operators around the globe.

More than 260 C-295s and CN-235s are used in a full range of tactical applications, from special mission service and troop rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan to international humanitarian and MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) flights, maritime patrol duties, peacekeeping operations, and logistics support.

The C-295/CN-235 is being offered by the Team JCA (Joint Cargo Aircraft) partnership of Raytheon and EADS CASA North America for the U.S. Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft intratheater lift mission. Team JCA also offers the proven intratheater performance that is necessary for effectively reaching the last tactical mile of combat operations in support of U.S. military forces.

"While others promise, the C-295 and CN-235 perform every day -- delivering the highest reliability and interoperability of any aircraft in their category," said Jon Jones, president of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "The one millionth flight milestone is another demonstration that the C-295 and CN-235 deliver mission assurance in some of the most demanding conditions for an aircraft."

"Whether it is combat transport, medical evacuation or humanitarian assistance, military forces around the world trust the C-295 and CN-235 aircraft to successfully complete their most demanding missions," said Ralph Crosby, chairman and CEO of EADS North America. "That trust is earned every day in the most demanding and dangerous operational environments."

The CN-235 has been operational since 1987, and the 220 aircraft delivered to date are flown by 30 military and governmental operators in 24 countries, including Chile, France, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey. Long-term production of the CN-235 is guaranteed by new orders, including as many as 36 for the U.S. Coast Guard's next-generation Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which will be built through 2017 for the Integrated Deepwater System modernization program.

The C-295 entered service in 2001 and is flown by Spain, Poland and Jordan. The only two-engine, five-pallet aircraft in its class, the C-295 has a growing list of customers that includes Brazil, Portugal and most recently Finland -- which last month announced its selection of the C-295 following a competitive selection that bested the C-27J.

Examples of C-295 and CN-235 operations include tactical support in Afghanistan, Iraq, Croatia, Kosovo and Korea; United Nations peacekeeping duties in Rwanda; post-tsunami delivery of humanitarian supplies to Indonesia; and evacuation flights during ethnic conflict in Benin.

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services and special-mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

EADS CASA North America, a U.S. Corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS North America and the representative organization of EADS CASA in Spain. The company offers a complete range of military transport aircraft, including mission aircraft: from the heavy lifter A400M now under development to the reliable and worldwide known C-295, CN-235 and C-212. EADS CASA supports customers who operate more than 700 C-212s, CN-235s and C-295 military transport aircraft in 50 countries.

  Contact:
  Lorenzo Cortes
  310.334.4431

  Lawrence Stein (EADS North America)
  703.236.3326

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Lorenzo Cortes of Raytheon Company, +1-310-334-4431; or Lawrence
Stein of EADS North America, +1-703-236-3326

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