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TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Raytheon Company
has begun delivering STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) initial deployment rounds to
the Missile Defense Agency. The event was marked by a ceremony at the
company's Missile Systems operations here today.
    SM-3 is a key element of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and
builds on the existing fleet of Aegis cruisers and destroyers.
    "This is a critical milestone for Raytheon and for our country. These
deployment rounds move the U.S. Navy one step closer to providing the nation
and our allies with a sea-based defense against short- to intermediate-range
ballistic missile threats," said Louise Francesconi, Raytheon Missile Systems
president.
    "The delivery of SM-3 is the result of the commitment and dedication of
employees from Raytheon and the entire supplier team. And it supports the
administration's commitment to provide a sea-based missile defense
capability," said Edward Miyashiro, Raytheon's vice president for Naval
Weapons Systems.
    "Aegis BMD went to sea on Sept. 30, able to track an ICBM and to
communicate that information to the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Today we
mark the fact that we will soon add firepower to Aegis BMD with the SM-3
missile. It will then be able to participate in the defense of not only the
U.S., but of our allies, friends and deployed troops against short-medium
range ballistic missiles around the globe," said Rear Adm. Kathleen Paige,
program director Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.
    "Because naval forces are inherently mobile and capable of multiple
missions, Aegis BMD will provide a broad array of options to operational
commanders responding to a wide variety of dynamic world situations. I am very
proud to the accomplishments of the Aegis BMD government and industry team,
and confident that they will continue to deliver in the future," she said.
    Since January 2002, the Aegis BMD system has successfully intercepted
targets in space four times with SM-3. In all the flight tests, the SM-3 was
launched from a U.S. Navy cruiser under increasingly realistic, operational
conditions.
    There is already international interest in Aegis BMD and SM-3. Japan made
the decision earlier this year to procure Aegis BMD and SM-3 missiles for its
four Kongo class Aegis destroyers. "Japan's recent decision to procure SM-3
further validates the performance and utility of this truly global missile
defense capability," Miyashiro said.
    Raytheon is also responsible for the manufacture and deployment of the
Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD)
program and is the interceptor lead for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor
program. Raytheon is also providing the Sea-Based X-band radar and Upgraded
Early Warning Radar for the GMD segment, the Space Tracking and Surveillance
System payload, the Ballistic Missile Defense System radar, and THAAD (Theater
High Altitude Area Defense) radar and battle management software.
    Raytheon is leading the SM-3 integrated team effort, supported by Aerojet,
the Boeing Company and Alliant Techsystems, which are providing major
subsystems.
    Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 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 78,000 people worldwide.

    Contact:
     Sara Hammond
     520.794.7810

Die USA sind im Gespräch mit Tschechien , Ungarn und Polen über die Stationierung von Abwehrsystemen gegen ballistische Raketen auf deren Territorium . Es geht hier um die Abwehr von Angriffen aus dem nahen Osten. Polen scheint interessiert zu sein. Positionen für RADAR und Startsysteme werden begutachtet. Das tschechische Parlament erfuhr dies aus der Presse und prüft nun über die Einrichtung einer US Base ( 100 qkm ) auf ihrem Territorium. Ebenfalls sind die USA mit Rumänien und Bulgarien im Gespräch.