CANBERRA - 16 August 2006: Raytheon Australia today marked the early delivery of the first of three F/A-18 training simulators to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Delivered under the F/A-18 Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS), the simulator represents cutting edge technology designed to improve advanced tactical pilot training in a simulated environment.

Speaking at a dedication ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown, Raytheon Australia’s Managing Director, Ron Fisher said “the early delivery of the simulator within budget demonstrates Raytheon’s commitment to the principle that ‘…early is on time and on time is late’.

“This is an important milestone for Raytheon Australia. We believe that the expert application of mature project management and rigorous systems engineering processes is critical in meeting our customer’s needs.

“I am also delighted with the successful partnership we have forged with L-3 Communications to deliver this training solution within time, on budget and to our customer’s satisfaction.

“Meeting our commitments to our customers and partners is the performance challenge that engages the 1,100 employees of Raytheon Australia. Today we are proud to honour this commitment through the early delivery of the first HACTS simulator. A second HACTS simulator has been installed and tested at RAAF Base Tindal five weeks ahead of schedule.

“Raytheon Australia’s efforts in this program have demonstrated our ability to deliver a totally integrated training solution to the RAAF.

“I commend Raytheon’s HACTS Project Team on their considerable efforts to make this early dedication possible. They have reaffirmed the company’s strong reputation as a Mission Systems integrator.”

Overall, the HACTS program will deliver two new simulators and a debrief system to Williamtown in NSW, and one simulator and debrief system to Tindal, NT. The simulators incorporate advanced, open networking infrastructure to enable individual and multi-simulator training missions, maximising the capability for the pilots to train tactically.

F/A-18 pilot training will be enabled through high fidelity, immersive visual displays combined with detailed simulations of new tactical systems included on recently upgraded F/A-18 aircraft. A number of Australian airfields and target ranges have been modelled, allowing pilots to train over a variety of Australian simulated terrain.

Raytheon Australia will provide through-life support for the new simulators until the withdrawal of the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from service with the RAAF. 

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Raytheon Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). Raytheon, with 2005 sales of US$21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defence and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.