TEWKSBURY, Mass., May 6, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile successfully completed its first acquisition and tracking mission March 3, marking the first phase of system field testing at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

"The success of this mission is a significant achievement for the SLAMRAAM program as we move into the testing phase," said Pete Franklin, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' National & Theater Security Programs.

"This outstanding system performance during initial field testing is due in large part to the extensive laboratory testing, modeling, simulation, analysis and test planning performed by the joint Raytheon and Army team in preparation for this field test. Raytheon is committed to providing a reliable, affordable and technologically advanced air defense capability to meet U.S. Army needs."

This phase of the system field test included government-provided targets, which were used to complete five planned mission runs. The mission system configuration consisted of two integrated fire control stations, two fire units, two SLAMRAAM sensors and a sensor emulator.

All primary objectives were accomplished in this first system field test of SLAMRAAM system: Radars tracked the target set; the target tracks were correlated; the integrated air picture was distributed over a netted and distributed radio network; and simulated engagements were conducted on all runs.

Additionally, SLAMRAAM demonstrated its robust capability to operate as a distributed system of elements including triangulation of strobe tracks, communications on the move and successful real time reconfiguration of its command and control structure. System field testing is planned to continue through May 2009.

SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art air defense system that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats and a wide range of air breathing threats. It combines combat proven air superiority credentials with advanced fire control and battle management and unparalleled surveillance radar and launcher-missile performance.

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 86 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, +1-339-645-6664

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