Canberra – 4 August 2010: Raytheon Australia today announced that it has teamed with Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. Company, to bid for the Air 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) Program. The HATS program will provide a rotary wing training capability for Navy and Army to meet the future training needs of the Australian Defence Force.

To demonstrate its capabilities as a trusted partner in rotary wing force preparedness the Raytheon Australia team offers strong existing customer relationships, innovative training solutions and a proud record of contract performance.

Together, Raytheon Australia and Bell Helicopter will offer an advanced Helicopter Aircrew Training System including flying platforms, simulators and training devices as well as courseware certified and maintained to exacting Defence standards. The flying platform solution will be centred around the Bell 429, the most modern and cost effective light twin helicopter on the market today offering a substantial capability enhancement for rotary wing flying training and light utility support.

In announcing the Teaming Agreement, the Managing Director of Raytheon Australia, Mr Michael Ward, emphasised the importance of a systems engineering approach to increase the effectiveness of rotary wing flying training. As part of this approach Mr Ward said the Bell 429 would play an important role in delivering a capable, modern and cost effective system necessary to prepare rotary wing pilots for operational transition onto a wide range of advanced aircraft.

Mr Ward also pointed to Raytheon’s strong pedigree in providing and supporting Australian helicopter programs such as the RAN’s Retention and Motivation Initiative and providing maintenance and engineering support under its Squirrel in service support contract for the Navy. This is added to the company’s extensive training pedigree including Hornet and Super Hornet training systems, electronic warfare training system and a range of relevant training programs in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Mr Ward said “we at Raytheon Australia have drawn upon all of our experience and expertise gained through delivering helicopter support to the ADF to select Bell Helicopter as our partner for this program. Bell Helicopter has a well deserved reputation for delivering on their commitments and, as result, I believe that together we are well placed to become trusted partners of the ADF in this vital endeavour in force preparedness.”

Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military vertical lift aircraft. Globally recognised for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell Helicopter has supported the ADF for over 50 years, through the sale and support of the Bell 47 Sioux, the Bell 206 Kiowa and Bell UH-1 family of helicopters.

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Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 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 75,000 people worldwide.

Further information:
Gerry Wheeler
0439 501 327
Gerry.Wheeler@raytheon.com.au