CANBERRA – 4 December 2008: The successful efforts of capable Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) in the defence market were recognised by special awards at Raytheon Australia’s 2008 SME Forum held in Canberra today.

Raytheon Australia Managing Director, Ron Fisher, announced the awards in the presence of other SME’s and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, the Hon. Greg Combet MP.

“Just as SME’s are the engine room for jobs and growth in the Australian economy they are fundamental to building a strong Australian defence industry,” Mr Fisher said.

“One of the factors that characterise Raytheon Australia is our determination to partner with capable SME’s to best deliver on the requirements of the Australian Defence Force. Primes have an immense capacity to offer mature processes, strong management practices, the skills of highly competent engineers and technicians as well as what we term ‘reachback’ to our parent companies overseas. Small business, on the other hand, is endowed with great agility and an incredible capacity for innovation.

“Combining these assets is tremendously important, not only for primes and SME’s, but for the successful delivery of capability to the ADF,” Mr Fisher said.

The Raytheon Australia Capability Partner Award was presented to the Managing Director of Cirrus Real Time Processing Systems Pty Ltd, Mr Peter Freed. Located in Surrey Hills in Sydney, Cirrus has excelled in the provision of data management products to the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class Submarine.

The Raytheon Australia Supply Chain Award was presented to the Managing Director of Micreo Limited, Mr Tim Shaw. Through Raytheon’s global supply chain, the Brisbane based company has become involved in the manufacture of components for the ALR67v3 radar warning receiver being produced for F/A-18 fighter aircraft for Australia, the United States, Canada and Switzerland.

“I am delighted that Raytheon is associated with such highly capable SME’s. They bring immense credit to the Australian defence industry and show the way for a great many other SME’s with whom our company is proud to do business,” Mr Fisher said.

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With facilities located across the country, Raytheon Australia is a highly capable prime contractor with an engineering and technical workforce of 1300 backed by world-class management and quality systems. This local presence is bolstered by strong relationships with small and medium sized enterprises and access to the global resources of Raytheon Company.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specialising in defence, 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.

Further information:
Gerry Wheeler
+61 439 501 327
gerard.wheeler@raytheon.com.au