TUCSON, Ariz., March 15, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) test-fired five 155 mm artillery projectiles with low-cost course correcting fuzes that successfully demonstrated Global Positioning System signal acquisition, determination of a navigation solution and deployment of control surfaces designed to modify the projectiles' trajectory and increase ballistic accuracy.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070315/CLTH028)

The closed-loop firing tests were accomplished with an M198 towed howitzer from a range of 20 kilometers (13.5 miles) at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz., last month.

The inability to control all the variables that shape a projectile's ballistic trajectory affects the accuracy of cannon artillery, which results in range error. A course correcting fuze applies a level of control to these variables to increase accuracy.

The new fuze fits into the wells of existing 105 mm and 155 mm artillery projectiles. It provides greatly increased accuracy by receiving GPS signals and modifying the rounds' in-flight trajectory through the deployment of small, ballistic-altering surfaces.

"This closed-loop test successfully met all objectives and provides us with a significant step forward in the development of this program," said Stephen Bennett, Raytheon CCF program manager. "The successful test of the course correcting fuze builds on Raytheon's strength for providing precision- guided artillery munitions."

Using internal funding, Raytheon is developing its course correcting fuze to meet the requirements of the U.S. Army's competitive Precision Guidance Kit program that currently is in the technology demonstration phase. Raytheon's course correcting fuze continues to demonstrate the ability to significantly improve the accuracy of existing ballistic unitary and cargo 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds with the addition of a low-cost, GPS-guided fuze kit.

Raytheon's Missile Systems business in Tucson, Ariz., will serve as the prime systems integrator, airframe designer and guidance and control authority, using L3 KDI Precision Products, Inc., to produce the all-up "smart fuze" kit at its automated fuze factory in Cincinnati, Ohio. KDI's proven experience with manufacturing more than 208,000 Multi-Option Fuze for artillery fuzes for the Army will help to ensure low production cost for Precision Guidance Kit.

Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 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 more than 80,000 people worldwide.

   Contact:
   Everett Tackett, APR
   520.360.8527

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070315/CLTH028
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Everett Tackett, APR of Raytheon Company, +1-520-360-8527

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