TEWKSBURY, Mass., Dec. 11, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $5.3 million contract by NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency to provide tower-based, elevated persistent surveillance capability for protection of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The Enhanced Surveillance Systems has similarities to Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment (RAID) systems currently deployed by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to providing the enhanced surveillance systems equipment, Raytheon will also provide all logistics support services required to keep the systems operational.

"This award demonstrates the recognized value of Raytheon's persistent surveillance systems to defense forces worldwide," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs, for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "Raytheon is proud to have been selected by NATO to provide this critical capability, and we are committed to rapidly delivering these life saving systems to our coalition forces."

Raytheon first developed RAID to meet the military's critical need for persistent surveillance in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. RAID consists of infrared and other sensor systems, elevated on a stationary platform, capable of detecting hostile troop and equipment movement at great distances. This capability enables U.S. and coalition forces to respond rapidly to threats.

Work will be performed at IDS' Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass., and at Raytheon's Warfighter Protection Center, Huntsville, Ala.

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:
  Maureen Heard
  339.645.6664
  http://www.raytheon.com/

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Maureen Heard of Raytheon Company, +1-339-645-6664

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