TEWKSBURY, Mass., March 20, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) recently completed its ninth consecutive successful JFires (Joint Force Interoperability and Requirements Evaluation SupraCenter) demonstration for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense.

JFires is Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' (IDS) multi-service, multi- theater, multi-mission Joint Battlespace prototyping environment integrating high fidelity, large-scale digital simulations with fielded hardware and software in a "hardware-in-the-loop" setting. This effort is currently focused on accelerating critical single integrated air picture (SIAP), combat identification and net-centric integrated fire control (IFC) capabilities to joint warfighters.

"JFires offers the Army and joint forces a venue for developing affordable, critically needed capabilities today," said John Urias, vice president, Force Application Programs, Raytheon IDS. Highlights of the demonstrations include multiple near-simultaneous IFC engagements by the U.S. Army's SLAMRAAM (Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) and U.S. Navy ship-launched air and cruise ballistic missile defense interceptors.

The demonstrations used operational scenarios prescribed by the services and the Joint Systems SIAP Engineering Organization. The scenarios incorporated diverse sensor, weapon and command and control platforms with hundreds of friendly and hostile air and space borne objects operating in a net-centric environment. At the prescribing agencies' request, Raytheon enhanced the scenario with additional land attack cruise and intercontinental ballistic missile threats. This recent demonstration was the latest in a series, coupling a multi-theater SIAP with flexible interceptor selection, demonstrating joint force integrated defense effectiveness.

Using Raytheon's Tactical Component Network® as the foundational SIAP technology enables the architecture to work with existing air picture networks while sharing identification and associated attributes across the composite network. As a result, new capabilities have emerged including network-based cueing and sensor resource management, forming the basis for a joint IFC capability.

"Our JFires demonstrations help us to iteratively refine our technologies to meet or exceed the Army's Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) requirements," Urias added. "We've shown a significant number of warfighters that JFires can provide the command and control solution set applicable at tactical through strategic levels of warfare."

Raytheon's Team IBCS is a world-class, complementary team ensuring the Army gets an affordable, low-risk and best-of-breed IBCS solution. The goal of IBCS is to provide an open architecture that enables the warfighter to take advantage of any sensor and any shooter in an IFC network - while seeking efficiencies through interchangeability with other services and agencies.

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 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, 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.

  Contact:
  Maureen Heard
  339.645.6664

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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