TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 20, 2004  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raytheon Missile
Systems has achieved Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Level 3
certification from the Software Engineering Institute. The certification
demonstrates that Missile Systems incorporates the best business practices to
ensure predictability and improved quality in performance.

    "This appraisal is a critical measurement of our ability to apply the
tools and processes that ensure reliability, consistency and accuracy in the
systems we produce for our customers," said Louise Francesconi, Raytheon
Missile Systems president.  "It marks a level of quality we are proud to
deliver and will continue to build on."

    CMMI is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National
Defense Industrial Association and is viewed by the DoD and industry as the
standard set of best practices for organizations.  The SEI is a federally
funded research and development center sponsored by the DoD and operated by
Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh, Pa.

    Raytheon Missile Systems will now build on this success to achieve higher
levels of CMMI compliance and continue to improve its products and processes
in the months and years ahead.  Based in Tucson, Ariz., Raytheon Missile
Systems is the world's premier designer, developer and producer of tactical
weapons systems for the United States and many international nations.  Missile
Systems employs more than 10,000 people in Tucson and other locations.

    Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an
industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information
technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.

    CMMI(R) is registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office by Carnegie
Mellon University.

   Contact:
   John Patterson
   520.794.4559


SOURCE: Raytheon Company



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