MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- With software development for
the full FAA Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) nearing
completion and at low risk, Frank Marchilena, president of Raytheon Company's
Command, Control, Communication and Information Systems, today told the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Aviation Subcommittee, that
STARS is ready for test and deployment.
    STARS is the largest and one of the most critical pieces of the FAA's
attempt to modernize the National Airspace System for the 21st century.
    "We now have completed design, coding and initial testing of more than 80
percent of the full STARS software on time and on budget," Marchilena said.
"We remain on track for completion of the full STARS software in October." The
first version of the full STARS software, FS-1, is being deployed in April to
a beta site at El Paso, Texas. With development nearing completion, the
production and fielding of full STARS systems is on schedule. STARS is planned
to be deployed to approximately 173 FAA and 102 Department of Defense
facilities.
    Marchilena noted that a full service STARS system has been successfully
controlling air traffic at Eglin AFB, Fla., since June 2000. In addition, a
STARS early display configuration (EDC) at El Paso and another one at Syracuse
have provided flawless operation since going into service. "We have received
extremely positive reviews from controllers using the EDC at El Paso and
Syracuse," Marchilena said.  Military controllers at Eglin AFB have made
similar comments.
    Addressing the early years of the STARS program, Marchilena said, "One of
the biggest challenges we faced over the past two years was identifying,
defining and implementing the desired modifications to the computer human
interface for the full STARS requested by both the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Professional Airways Systems
Specialists (PASS). I am most pleased to report that all stakeholders --
NATCA, PASS, the FAA and Raytheon -- are in agreement with the modifications
and are pleased with the results to date. We look forward to deployment of 30
to 50 FAA and DoD systems per year in the not too distant future."
    The underlying STARS system, called AutoTrac by Raytheon, is operational
and is safely controlling air traffic in several of the world's largest
airport terminal areas including Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Hong Kong.
    With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTNA, RTNB)
is a global technology leader in defense, government and commercial
electronics, and business and special mission aircraft.

     Contact:
     Blanche Necessary
     202.314.3780

 SOURCE Raytheon Company

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