TEWKSBURY, Mass., March 20, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has completed the construction phase of the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Thule Air Base, Greenland, signifying the facility's readiness to begin hardware installation and integration.

"Completing the construction of the UEWR facility at Thule marks the achievement of a significant program milestone," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National & Theater Security Programs, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). "The UEWR at Thule builds on the radars that we've already deployed to Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and Royal Air Force Fylingdales, U.K., and will add significantly more surveillance coverage for the U.S. missile defense mission."

The Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon IDS the UEWR Thule contract in April 2006. As the prime contractor, Raytheon will integrate new electronics, computer hardware and mission software to upgrade the existing two-faced, phased-array antenna facility at the remote site. Raytheon will also support integrated tests of the Thule UEWR, performing both missile defense and legacy missions.

Developed by Raytheon IDS, the UEWR continues Raytheon's 30-year heritage of Ultra High Frequency phased-array radars. The UEWRs add missile defense capabilities to the Raytheon-developed PAVE PAWS and Ballistic Missile Early Warning System radars, while continuing their missile warning and space surveillance missions, which are performed by U.S. Air Force Space Command. The radar is a key sensor for the Missile Defense Agency's Ballistic Missile Defense System, providing target detection and tracking to protect the U.S. and other nations from ballistic missile attacks.

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 more than 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:
  Joyce Melikian
  339.645.6967

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

CONTACT: Joyce Melikian of Raytheon Company, +1-339-645-6967

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