TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 15, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- NetFires LLC, a company composed of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Missile Systems business and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Missiles and Fire Control, successfully passed a joint critical design review (CDR) for the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System Precision Attack Missile and Container Launch Unit.

The Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System, which is one of the 18 Future Combat System's core systems, will operate as a part of the Future Combat System Systems of Systems to meet the requirements of the Army's Future Brigade Combat Teams. It will provide increased capability for the Current Force's Modular Brigade Combat Teams.

Compared to systems with equivalent firepower (kills per combat load), the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System provides a tailorable, modular, highly deployable, and flexible precision fires capability to the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and joint maneuver forces for a very low life-cycle system cost.

"This successful CDR was made possible by our dedicated government and industry personnel, and I am pleased with the independent review team's assessment and approval of our success," said Col. Doug Dever, Non Line-of- Sight-Launch System project manager. "There are not enough words to express my sincere thanks to the hundreds of people throughout the United States who made this major milestone a success. The team has demonstrated a design that meets all design and performance requirements for the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System."

The successful completion of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System Critical Design Review represents a significant milestone in meeting the design and performance parameters of the Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System supporting Future Combat System Spin Out 1 and weaponization of the Navy Littoral Combat Ships.

"Joint procurement of this system by the Army and Navy will result in significant economy, better interoperability, and the potential for mutual support between land and sea forces in the littorals. It's a win for both services," said Capt. Mikem Good, Navy program manager for Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules, Program Executive Office Littoral and Mine Warfare. "Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System is one of the key Littoral Combat Ship mission modules in a spiral development process to meet future requirements and improve our warfighting capability."

The Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System consists of Raytheon's Precision Attack Missile and a joint Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Container Launch Unit. In 2004, the Army decided to accelerate the Raytheon's Precision Attack Missile and the joint Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Container Launch Unit for incorporation into the Army's Evaluation Brigade Combat Team, Spin Out 1.

"Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System represents an exciting new capability within the Brigade Combat Team to precisely engage moving targets," said Col. Gary Kinne, TRADOC capabilities manager for Rockets and Missile Systems.

"Work under this contract began in 2004 and the critical design review was completed six months ahead of schedule," said Scott Speet, executive vice president of the NetFires LLC and Raytheon's Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System program director. "Non Line-of-Sight-Launch System team, composed of Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy and our supplier teammates, worked very hard to meet this critical milestone, and this is a credit to the entire team."

Raytheon Company, 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.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

  Raytheon                 Lockheed Martin
  Everett Tackett, APR     Craig Vanbebber
  520.794.9494             972.603.1615

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Everett Tackett, APR of Raytheon, +1-520-794-9494; or Craig
Vanbebber of Lockheed Martin, +1-972-603-1615

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