Raytheon Delivers 300th Raid Tower to the U.S. Army
TEWKSBURY, Mass., Nov. 12, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN) delivered the 300th Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment tower to the
U.S. Army during a celebration marking the occasion in Huntsville, Ala.
RAID towers provide persistent surveillance capability using infrared
sensors elevated on a stationary platform. Raytheon first developed RAID to
respond to the U.S. military's critical need for persistent surveillance. The
system is currently in wide use throughout Operations Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and coalition allies.
"This delivery of the 300th RAID tower to our Army customer is a milestone
we take great pride in," said Pete Franklin, vice president, National &
Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "RAID
continues to prove its significance on the battlefield in protecting our most
valuable asset, the warfighter."
The RAID system employs a variety of platforms (aerostat, tower or mast)
and sensor suites to provide unprecedented elevated persistent surveillance in
support of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance needs. It supports a
variety of missions ranging from force protection to force projection to
border surveillance for domestic homeland security as well as for that of our
allies.
"Everyone working on the RAID program knows that what they do in providing
unparalleled support to our customer plays a key role in making sure the
system has the highest operational readiness for our warfighters," said Mike
Staid, RAID senior program manager for Raytheon.
RAID is an example of IDS' OpenAIR(TM) business model that leverages the
best of academia, large and small business to provide the best value solution.
Work on the RAID program is performed at Raytheon IDS' Integrated Air Defense
Center, Andover, Mass.; Cross Business Integration Center, Billerica, Mass.;
and Warfighter Protection Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities
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 86 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.
