RAF FAIRFORD, U.K., July 18, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Team JCA -- led by Raytheon Company with EADS CASA North America -- debuted its first Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA), a C-295 military transport, at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) held at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, this past weekend.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060718/NETU018 )

Team JCA last month submitted two bids to the JCA joint program office. The bids are centered on EADS CASA's combat-proven CN-235 and C-295 transport aircraft. The C-295 that debuted at RIAT has been configured by Team JCA with representative systems that would be used by U.S. Army and Air Force evaluators during the Early User Survey (EUS) portion of the JCA competition. EUS is scheduled to begin this fall.

"Team JCA is very proud to display its first aircraft at this globally prominent air show," said Tom Kennedy, vice president for the Integrated Airborne Systems business of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems. "Our Team JCA solution is ready to support not only EUS but the vital mission of providing our troops on the ground with a combat-proven, medium-lift capability that will save lives."

The C-295/CN-235 family of military transport aircraft represents the best operational and acquisition value for the JCA mission, offering the lowest acquisition and direct operating costs of any airlifter in its category along with proven intratheater performance. These are considered necessary capabilities in effectively reaching the last tactical mile of combat operations in support of U.S. military forces. More than 260 CN-235s and C-295s are deployed by 24 air forces worldwide, demonstrating interoperability and interdependence with NATO countries and U.S. allies. Both the CN-235 and C-295 have been combat-proven in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo by U.S. and coalition 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 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: from the heavy lifter A400M now under development to the reliable and world-renowned 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. For further information, please visit http://www.raytheon.com/teamjca.

  Contact:
  Sabrina Steele (At Farnborough Air Show)
  +44 7894 072843
  Sksteele@raytheon.com

  Lorenzo Cortes
  310.334.4431
  Lorenzo_R_Cortes@raytheon.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060718/NETU018
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Sabrina Steele, +44 7894 072843, Sksteele@raytheon.com, or
Lorenzo Cortes, +1-310-334-4431, Lorenzo_R_Cortes@raytheon.com, both of
Raytheon Company

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