WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Turnpike Enterprise selection committee has chosen Raytheon to negotiate for the $221 million Toll System Replacement program.

The selection committee made its decision based on Raytheon's technical and financial proposal, which provided the lowest risk.

If negotiations are successful, Raytheon will begin work by Sept. 15 as the prime contractor, responsible for the overall project of providing the state with open road, free-flow electronic tolling systems.

"Raytheon is pleased to be selected by the state of Florida to begin negotiations," said Michael Prout, Raytheon president of Highway Transportation Management Systems. "This selection validates our continued growth and leadership in highway transportation management. Raytheon is the most experienced supplier of all electronic open road tolling points in the world with more than 220 toll points in operation on three continents."

Florida Turnpike Enterprise manages a 612-mile system of limited-access toll highways. The current toll system is a hybrid consisting of lane-based cash and electronic-tolling elements. Its turnpike mainline passes through 11 counties from North Miami to a junction with Interstate 75 in central Florida.

The replacement program calls for an upgrade of tolling hardware at 815 lanes and 174 plazas throughout the state, including replacement of the central audit system.

The new toll collection system is an arrangement of computers; communications networks; and electronic, electro-mechanical, and mechanical devices and processes that work together.

The system will be designed to be adaptable to changing business rules and will support attended and unattended toll operations as well as open road tolling lane operations.

"Around the globe and across the country, Raytheon has consistently provided innovative solutions for managing the increasing number of drivers who swarm our highways," said Prout. "When you combine that kind of leadership with the success we have achieved in the air traffic control industry, you will find that Raytheon is poised to provide the kinds of transportation management solutions that will define the next generation of travel."

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:
  Lynford Morton
  703.284.4446

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Lynford Morton of Raytheon Company, +1-703-284-4446

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