<< [Back to News Release Archive]
Raytheon, EADS ST Sign Cooperative Agreement for Ballistic Missile Defense Interceptors
FLORENCE, Italy, PARIS, and TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raytheon Company and EADS SPACE Transportation have signed a cooperative agreement to begin collaborating on ballistic missile defense (BMD) interceptor programs in Europe, the United States and around the world. The agreement establishes a framework to enable and structure formal discussions between the two companies to identify and pursue business opportunities in the emerging global ballistic missile defense market. Areas of immediate focus include developing mutual business opportunities in variants of existing and emerging exoatmospheric multi-stage BMD interceptors. "With the proliferation of ballistic missiles and a growing global need for missile defense, we are proud to work with Raytheon, acknowledged partner in BMD exoatmospheric interceptors and systems," said Herve Guillou, CEO EADS SPACE Transportation. "In addition to exo-interceptors and interceptor components, we will strive to foster our transatlantic relationship in other areas including civil space programs." "EADS SPACE Transportation is a natural partner for us in transatlantic and global BMD. EADS SPACE Transportation has the mature, complimentary technology that is key to building highly capable interceptor systems, as well as compatible and balanced long-term business relationships," said Louise Francesconi, Raytheon's Missile Systems president. "Beyond domain expertise and formidable industrial capability, EADS is a pan-European company with a proven capacity to develop and integrate complex multi-country and multi- company programs like Ariane 5." Raytheon is a global leader in BMD and has developed for operational deployment all of the United States' exoatmospheric interceptors, including the land-based Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle for Ground-based Midcourse Defense, and the sea-based STANDARD Missile-3 for Aegis BMD. Additionally, with Northrop Grumman, Raytheon is developing the Kinetic Energy Interceptor. EADS ST has proven across-the-board capabilities in missile defense and strong, unique capabilities making the company Europe's leader in ballistic missile defense technology. EADS ST has expertise in key areas of missile defense including: domain knowledge, ballistic threat and ballistic warfare, system integration and engineering, state-of-the-art, high-performance, carbon composite interceptor stages, and advanced solid and liquid divert propulsion. For BMD mission solutions, in addition to interceptors, Raytheon is a key contractor for numerous missile defense sensors, command and control, battle management and weapons systems including: Patriot Air and Missile Defense System; Upgraded Early Warning Radars; naval BMD systems & radars; the THAAD Ground-Based Radar; Sea-Based X-band radar; Space Tracking and Surveillance System; and Forward-Based X-band radar. Additionally, as part of ThalesRaytheonSystems, the company is building NATO ACCS, which is the foundation for NATO BMD Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications. EADS SPACE Transportation is the European leading company for civil and military space transportation and manned spaceflight. EADS SPACE Transportation is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defense space systems and present in France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain. In 2003, EADS SPACE Transportation had a turnover of 1.2 billion euros and 4,500 employees. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion and 78,000 employees worldwide is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon media contact: EADS ST media contacts: Sara Hammond Dr. Christian Erles 520.794.7810 33-1-39-06-3253 SOURCE: Raytheon Company Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/