GOLETA, Calif., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is
working with Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Systems in pursuit of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's program to equip commercial aircraft with
missile protection systems.
The Raytheon/Elta system, dubbed "SafeFlight," is a unique, low cost
solution combining Elta's missile approach warning system and Raytheon's
countermeasure dispensing system. In operation, SafeFlight will detect an
incoming missile and quickly divert it from the targeted aircraft. The system
operates independently, requires no pilot interaction or training, involves
minimal maintenance, and is invisible from air or ground locations.
Both the missile warning and countermeasure subsystems have been proven in
military application. Elta's missile warning system, part of its "Flight
Guard" system already in operation on 150 military aircraft as well as on
several commercial aircraft, is an advanced pulse Doppler radar proven
operationally successful in 10 countries. "Flight Guard," with the Elta
radar, was recently selected by the Israel Ministry of Transportation to
outfit Israel's commercial airliners. Raytheon's infrared countermeasure,
demonstrated successfully on U.S. Air Force transport and tactical aircraft,
is designed to release invisible, environmentally safe material into the
atmosphere to defeat infrared missile threats during takeoff and landing
operations. SafeFlight is fully automatic, easy to install and maintain, and
a lower cost alternative to competing technologies.
"SafeFlight represents a unique opportunity for Raytheon to apply its
combat-proven military technology to the commercial marketplace," said Pat
Hurley, vice president and general manager of Raytheon's Electronic Warfare
Systems organization. "We look forward to playing a key role in the defense
of our homeland, and we're especially proud to do it with a world-renowned and
respected company such as Elta."
Israel Livnat, Israel Aircraft Industries' corporate vice president and
president of Elta Systems, said, "We are eager to work with Raytheon on such
an important program to protect American airliners. Our missile warning
technology is second to none and will seamlessly integrate with Raytheon's
infrared countermeasure capability for a highly effective system solution."
Raytheon Electronic Warfare Systems, located in Goleta, Calif., has been
providing aircraft self-protection systems to U.S. and allied military forces
for more than fifty years. Its product line includes towed decoys, jammers,
radar warning receivers, and integrated electronic warfare systems. Elta
Systems, located in Ashdod, Israel, designs and manufactures a wide variety of
electronic systems including airborne, land and naval radars.
Raytheon Company, with 2002 sales of $16.8 billion, is an industry leader
in defense, government and commercial electronics, space, information
technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
With headquarters in Lexington, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 76,000
people worldwide.
Contact:
Ron Colman
805.879.2041
SOURCE Raytheon Company
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Related links:
http://www.raytheon.com
CONTACT:
Ron Colman of Raytheon Company,
+1-805-879-2041
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