McKINNEY, Texas, July 17, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE:
RTN) is upgrading the video data link capability for its Advanced Targeting
Forward-looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod under a recently announced $10
million award from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
    The non-recurring step-one engineering change proposal (ECP) calls for
Raytheon to deliver 12 ATFLIR targeting pods (provided by the U.S. Navy)
capable of transmitting video via a high-speed and more secure Ku band to
ROVER III (Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver) man-portable ground
stations.
    "Through this new data link capability, the high resolution
electro-optic video imagery ATFLIR provides will allow ground commanders to
coordinate directly with the aircrew for non-traditional intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as close air support
missions," said Mike Crisp, ATFLIR program manager for Raytheon. "This kind
of improvement makes the most of ATFLIR's airborne sensor information as
actionable knowledge in support of the ground mission."
    Raytheon is required to test the improved pods in flight to demonstrate
safety and mission support. The upgrade work will be performed at the
company's Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) headquarters in El Segundo,
Calif. The company is currently in Lot 2 full rate production and has
delivered more than 132 ATFLIR pods to the Navy.
    ATFLIR is the Navy's targeting pod of record for the F/A-18 Hornet
including Navy and Marine Corps aircraft carrier-based variants. In
addition to the ECP award, Raytheon is working with NAVAIR on infrared
marker insertion into ATFLIR, which is currently in the flight test and
evaluation stages.
    Raytheon SAS is the leading provider of sensor systems giving
warfighters the most accurate and timely information available for the
network-centric battlefield. With 2005 revenues of $4.2 billion and 13,000
employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., with additional
facilities in Goleta, Calif.; Forest, Miss.; Dallas, McKinney and Plano,
Texas; and several international locations.
    Raytheon Company, with 2005 sales of $21.9 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 80,000 people
worldwide.
    Contact                                  At Farnborough
    Dave Desilets                            Faith Jennings
    972.952.2239 office                      310.977.1963
    David_C_Desilets@raytheon.com            Faith_Jennings@raytheon.com

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