MCKINNEY, Texas, July 28  /PRNewswire/ -- Under a $29.4 million contract
from Electric Boat Corporation, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will produce new
Submarine High Data Rate (Sub HDR) multi-band satellite communication (SATCOM)
systems for the new Virginia Class submarine. Work will begin immediately.

    Sub HDR is a communication system that connects submariners to the above
sea world by giving them for the first time high data rate, multi-band SATCOM
capability. Sailors deploy Sub HDR by raising a mast-mounted antenna above the
ocean's surface, while the boat remains submerged-and stealthy-at periscope
depth.

    The system connects to the Global Broadcast Service, the Milstar satellite
constellation, and the Defense Satellite Communication System to send and
receive mission-critical information such as secure wideband multi-media,
voice and data traffic, imagery and video teleconferencing.  Sub HDR enables
underwater forces to be full participants in coordinated fleet battle group
and FORCEnet operations.

    To date, Raytheon has developed and delivered more than 50 Sub HDRs under
contracts worth more than $160 million.  Its customers include: Newport News
Shipyard, for the first build of Virginia Class submarines; Electric Boat
Corporation, for the second build of Virginia Class submarines; and the U.S.
Navy Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers,
Intelligence and Space, for existing classes of United States and United
Kingdom submarines.

    The Virginia Class is the next-generation U.S. attack submarine and the
first class designed for a broad spectrum of missions including regional,
littoral, and open-ocean or "blue water" combat.  Virginia Class submarines
have two Sub HDR masts that allow simultaneous communication at Super High
Frequency (SHF) and Extremely High Frequency (EHF).  This capability increases
naval warfighters' connectivity which results in increased lethality.

    Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 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 78,000 people worldwide.


   Note to editors:
   Electric Boat Corporation is located in Groton, Conn.

    Raytheon employees in Marlborough, Mass., design and develop Sub HDR.
Employees in Largo, Fla., manufacture the system.

    Sub HDR's acquisition began in 1996, following a competitive procurement
and Raytheon's selection. Within 21 months, the system performed a land-based,
over-the-air demonstration of its SHF and EHF multi-band satellite tracking
and communication capabilities.  In 1999, Raytheon upgraded the SATCOM mast to
receive Ka-band high data rate Global Broadcast Service.  In August 2002, Sub
HDR was tested on the attack submarine USS Providence SSN 719.

       Contact:
   Patricia Perlini
   972.952.4033


SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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