PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, KAUAI, Hawaii, July 31, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-3 destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target in space July 30. The test marked the 15th hit-to-kill intercept for SM-3 and the 19th missile intercept of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program.

"SM-3 is a mature and proven solution for defeating threat ballistic missiles," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. "This intercept proved once again that SM-3 is the right choice for protecting the U.S. and its allies against the growing ballistic missile threat."

The target ballistic missile was launched from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range on Kauai while the crew of the guided missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG-70) fired the SM-3.

SM-3 is being developed as part of the Missile Defense Agency's sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. The missiles are deployed on U.S. Aegis cruisers and destroyers and Japanese destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the ascent and midcourse phases of flight. Raytheon also is developing the kinetic warhead for SM-3.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 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.

    Note to Editors:
    Standard Missile-3 hit-to-kill successes:

    Jan. 22, 2002
    June 13, 2002
    Nov. 21, 2002
    Dec. 11, 2003
    Feb. 24, 2005
    Nov. 17, 2005
    June 22, 2006
    April 26, 2007
    June 22, 2007
    Nov. 6, 2007 (2 simultaneous kills)
    Dec. 17, 2007
    Feb. 20, 2008 (satellite intercept)
    July 30, 2009

    Contact:
    John Patterson
    520.440.2194 (mobile)
    520.794.4559 (office)
    John_B_Patterson@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

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

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