TEWKSBURY, Mass., July 23, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $23.2 million contract to provide AN/AQS-20A mine hunting sonar engineering services and support. This award exercises an option on an existing 2005 contract, bringing the total contract value to $139 million.

AN/AQS-20A, a key component of the Organic Mine Countermeasures family of systems, has been integrated into multiple airborne mine countermeasures helicopters. Most notably, it is the primary mine hunting system integrated into the U.S. Navy's MH-60S. It provides critical capabilities in support of mine-clearing operations in both deep ocean and littoral waters by enabling the detection, classification and localization of bottom, close-tethered and volume mines.

The proven and highly capable AN/AQS-20A system is towed undersea to scan the water in front and to the sides of the vehicle as well as the sea bottom for anti-shipping mines. The system uses sonar and electro-optical sensors to provide high-resolution images of mines and mine-like objects as well as high-precision location information.

"AN/AQS-20A achieves the critical goal of the U.S. Navy's mine countermeasure strategy - taking the sailor and the ship out of the mine field," said Upinder Dhinsa, vice president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) Maritime Mission Systems. "Our technical expertise allows us to deliver advanced capabilities, and our focus on the safety and success of the warfighter drives our commitment to quality and reliability."

IDS' engineering services and support will advance the design, development and production of the system's acoustic and optical sensors through the implementation of pre-planned product improvements and whole life services and support. To date, the company has delivered 10 AN/AQS-20A systems to the Navy. Four systems are currently undergoing technical evaluation as part of the Navy's mine countermeasure operational testing - the final stage before official deployment to the fleet. IDS is under contract to deliver an additional 11 systems within the next 24 months.

AN/AQS-20A engineering and support services will be performed at Raytheon IDS' Maritime Mission Center, Portsmouth, R.I.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Joint Battlespace Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.

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:
  Carolyn Beaudry
  401.842.3550

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Carolyn Beaudry of Raytheon Company, +1-401-842-3550

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