TEWKSBURY, Mass., June 29, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company delivered the first CAC2S (Common Aviation Command and Control System) string to Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., earlier this month, marking the beginning of the final live phase of system testing.

"The transition to live testing marks a monumental achievement by the Raytheon-Marine Corps CAC2S team and is a critical enabler for a successful milestone decision and subsequent operational testing, evaluation and transition to initial production," said Rick Yuse, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), vice president of Integrated Air Defense.

"CAC2S enables reliable, streamlined Marine air command and control in a much-improved configuration that supports the Marine Corps' 21st century vision of expeditionary maneuver warfare."

Raytheon IDS, prime systems integrator for CAC2S, worked closely with the Marine Corps to consolidate several existing disparate air command and control systems' functionality into one common system. CAC2S leverages the Navy Ship Self Defense System (Mark II) system architectural components and code to ensure CAC2S is the right product to provide the needed streamlined capabilities. Live testing of the first string of three shelters is designed to prove system performance in a challenging tactical environment configured with live radars and communications.

Raytheon IDS will provide delivery of an additional three strings, for a final total of 15 shelters, at completion of live testing to support follow-on operational assessment and operational testing.

The CAC2S provides the Marine Corps with integrated hardware, software, equipment and facilities for command and control of Marine Air Ground Task Force air operations in joint and multinational theaters. The Raytheon IDS CAC2S is an expeditionary platform for integrating fires, maneuver and aviation with a single integrated air picture for air command, air support and air defense operations.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a strong international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the U.S. armed forces.

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 business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

  Contact:
   Guy Shields
   978.858.5246

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Guy Shields of Raytheon, +1-978-858-5246

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