AURORA, Colo., April 12, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received approval of its environmental assessment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for precision placement of two National Polar-orbiting Operational Environment Satellite System (NPOESS) Safety Net™ data-receipt antennae at the McMurdo Bay research station in Antarctica.

This milestone will enable construction to begin on the NPOESS antennae, or receptor sites, in McMurdo during the 2007-2008 Southern Hemisphere summer. With the harsh weather and remote polar environment, antennae placement is very difficult, and adequate planning is vital to complete this work on schedule.

NPOESS will monitor global environmental conditions and collect and disseminate data related to weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment. SafetyNet, a major feature of the NPOESS ground system, is a unique and innovative network of 15 data-receipt antennae sites and fiber- optic communications around the world.

SafetyNet will provide the time-critical NPOESS data to civil, military and science users in fewer than 30 minutes, compared to current data delivery for U.S. polar-orbiting weather satellite systems, which requires more than two hours. The optimum for weather forecasting is to have the most minimal data delivery time possible, increasing the ability to forecast weather in a more timely and accurate manner.

"NPOESS data is vital for future weather analysis and forecasting to support military operations, civil applications and scientific research," said Mike Mader, vice president and NPOESS program lead for Raytheon Company. "The NSF approval of this environmental assessment culminates two years of Raytheon and government efforts to secure key worldwide NPOESS receptor sites and is further evidence that collaborations between the NPOESS Integrated Program Office, NSF and the Northrop Grumman-Raytheon team work well."

Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems is part of the Northrop Grumman Corporation-NPOESS team. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor and has overall responsibility for the program development effort.

Based in Garland, Texas, Raytheon IIS is a leading provider of information and intelligence solutions to the government. Raytheon IIS has annual revenues of approximately $2.6 billion and employs more than 8,000 engineering and technical professionals worldwide. Raytheon IIS recently achieved a strategic milestone in earning CMMI® (Capability Maturity Model Integration) Maturity Level 3 accreditation for the full model scope (System Engineering, Software Engineering, Integrated Product and Process Development, and Supplier Sourcing) across its enterprise.

Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning more than 80 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

  Contact:
  Keith Little
  703.849.1675

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Keith Little for Raytheon Company, +1-703-849-1675

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