LONDON, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt
Hon Geoff Hoon MP, announced today in the House of Commons that Raytheon
Company (NYSE: RTNA, RTNB) has been awarded a multi-million pound order for
Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to equip the Eurofighter
Aircraft when it comes into service in 2004. The UK Ministry of Defence has
awarded Matra-BAe Dynamics a contract to supply them with the Meteor missile
which has still to be developed and is expected to be available at the end of
the decade.
"We are obviously delighted with this new significant order and the fact
that the UK will continue to be a major purchaser of AMRAAM well into the
future," said Raytheon Chairman and CEO, Dan Burnham. "We are, however,
disappointed at the decision not to participate in the government backed US/UK
co-operative programme. We believe that would have provided the UK with the
lowest cost, lowest risk proposal for a proven and upgradeable solution to the
defence requirements of the UK and allied nations around the world. It would
have taken US/ UK industrial and technological co-operation to a new level and
brought enormous benefits to the UK."
Burnham pointed out that "$2.4 billion has already been invested to make
AMRAAM the foremost air superiority weapon in the arsenals of 19 allied
nations around the world. It is cleared for 25 nations and is integrated on
virtually every allied aircraft type.
"We will continue to build on the huge technology lead AMRAAM currently
enjoys. We have no doubt this ongoing programme, continuously injecting AMRAAM
with the latest technology, will ensure AMRAAM remains the global BVR standard
and weapon of choice for allied nations and pilots around the world", said
Burnham.
Peter McKee, Managing Director, Raytheon Systems Limited commented,
"Whilst the decision not to press ahead with a US/UK co-operative programme is
a disappointment, the award of this multi-million pound order for AMRAAM
missiles is very good news for RSL Glenrothes, the world-wide supplier of the
AMRAAM control section.
"The UK/US co-operative programme was an unprecedented offer and today's
decision means that all the benefits in terms of the technology leap for UK
industries, the guaranteed access to the US market and the benefits from
global sales will now unfortunately be lost to the UK."
Raytheon Systems Limited is the UK-based subsidiary of Raytheon Company
servicing both defence and commercial markets with some 2,000 employees
working out of ten facilities. The company designs, develops and manufactures
a wide range of advanced electronic products and systems including airport
radars, Identification Friend or Foe systems, anti-jam Global Navigation
Systems and marine navigation equipment. It also undertakes aircraft
servicing, repair and modifications and develops simulation and training
products for air traffic control. Raytheon Systems Limited is prime bidder for
a number of major Ministry of Defence programmes such as SIFF (Successor
Identification Friend or Foe) and also participates as a team player in bids
for other programmes such as the Royal Navy's Future Carrier (CVF).
Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader
providing products and services in the areas of commercial and defence
electronics and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon has operations
throughout the United States and services customers in more than 80 countries.
Contact: Jackie Berger Tel: 0207 569 5516
Mike Brown Tel: 0207 569 5517
http://www.raytheon.com
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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