MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 11, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has won the U.S. Air Force's competition to upgrade a satellite communications system that provides protected communications to warfighters around the world.

The contract, valued in excess of $75 million, is for development and production of the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network program upgrade, or MMPU. Raytheon began work on the current MMP solution for the Air Force in 1999 as part of a study contract.

"This award is further testament to our unparalleled expertise in protected satellite communications and advanced extremely high frequency, or AEHF, communications across the services," said Jerry Powlen, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems' Integrated Communications Systems. "The MMPU contract, along with our protected SATCOM contract for the Navy Multiband Terminal and our efforts on the Army's Secure Mobile Anti Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal, demonstrates our innovative technology solutions."

As part of the MMPU contract, Raytheon Network Centric Systems will develop, deliver, and support an advanced satellite communication system of ground-based communication terminals. The Air Force expects to field the terminals for operational test and evaluation in late 2009, which is consistent with Department of Defense's plans to have its advanced extremely high frequency satellite constellation in operation in 2010.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 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 and control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

  Note to Editors:

  This award was originally announced by the Department of Defense Jan. 15,
  2008

  MMPU provides the mission flexibility, data throughput and transmission
  assurance that allows Air Force and national command and control networks
  to extend seamlessly from the president and other national command
  authorities to operational forces.

  The Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network provides the
  president and the Department of Defense with assured connectivity to
  warfighters around the world.

  Raytheon won the $1 billion Navy Multiband Terminal contract in June 2007.
  Under the contract Raytheon will deliver the next-generation of protected
  SATCOM to the Navy.

  Raytheon's SMART-T is the first AEHF system to go into production with the
  proven capability to communicate with the next generation of Advanced
  Extremely High Frequency communications satellites. AEHF is the Department
  of Defense's primary system to provide highly protected satellite
  communications through 2020.

  Production work will be performed in Largo, Fla.

   Contact:
   MB Hodgkiss
   508.490.2607

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: MB Hodgkiss of Raytheon Company, +1-508-490-2607

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