MCKINNEY, Texas, July 12, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) an $18.5 million contract modification to provide an infrared marker upgrade on Hornet and Super Hornet targeting pods, which will enhance F/A-18 ground operations support.

The upgrade will affect Lots 4 and 5 of the Advanced Targeting Forward- Looking Infrared program. The work will be performed by Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, Calif., and McKinney, Texas.

"With the insertion of the IR marker, the non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting role of the F/A-18 is greatly expanded," said Roger Nordmeyer, the Raytheon program director for ATFLIR. "Equipping Hornets and Super Hornets with this additional mission capability reflects customer demand to make the most of every airborne sensor in today's

The marker supports ground operations and air-to-ground missions, allowing F/A-18 pilots to illuminate targets of interest with an infrared designator,

To date, Raytheon has delivered more than 190 pods to the Navy, and the program is currently in Lot 3 full rate production. The company expects to begin building Lot 4 pods in December.

The AN/ASQ-228 pod is a program of record for Hornets and Super Hornets, including Navy and Marine Corps carrier-based squadrons. In more than 100,000 hours of flight operations, ATFLIR has detected and tracked targets at substantial altitudes and ranges. Raytheon's is also the only pod that provides continuous auto-boresight alignment. The electro-optical sensor, targeting FLIR, and high-power laser share a common optical path for unmatched accuracy and mission effectiveness.

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:
  Dave Desilets
  972.952.2239

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Dave Desilets of Raytheon Company, +1-972-952-2239

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