EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 11, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- A hyper-spectral imaging sensor developed by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) to demonstrate and assess military applications from satellites launched on demand has been delivered to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The delivery marks the sensor's first leg of a journey into space scheduled in December aboard a vehicle known as TacSat-3.

The ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer) program called for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to design and build the sensor within 15 months as part of a rapid development experiment funded by a $15 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory. The typical development cycle of such a program would be four to five years, according to Brian Arnold, vice president for Raytheon's Space Systems business.

"The intent of the program is to help demonstrate the feasibility of the 'responsive-space' concept," Arnold said. "Small, relatively inexpensive satellites would be launched on demand to meet real-time battlefield needs."

In the responsive space approach, satellites and their cargo, such as an ARTEMIS payload, would be kept in a holding facility where systems could be assembled and transported rapidly to a convenient launch site. Employing commercial-off-the-shelf components and industry standard interfaces, ARTEMIS serves as a prototype for systems that can support rapid launch requirements in an easy-to-manufacture, low-cost design.

"Conceivably, a system could be mounted on a satellite, launched, and in orbit 200 miles above the earth within three to seven days of a request by a field commander, providing data in a user-friendly format while greatly reducing critical response times and enhancing battle assessment capabilities" Arnold said.

Raytheon is working on concept development for a follow-on hyper-spectral imaging payload with an even wider coverage area for the Naval Research Laboratory. The ARTEMIS sensor was developed for the Department of Defense's Tactical Satellite program.

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems is a leading provider of sensor systems giving military forces the most accurate and timely actionable intelligence available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2006 revenues of $4.3 billion and 12,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. Additional facilities are in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas; and several international locations.

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 85 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:
  John Barksdale
  310.647.8224

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: John Barksdale of Raytheon Company, +1-310-647-8224

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