CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - 4 October 2007: Representatives of the AWD Alliance (the Commonwealth of Australia, Raytheon Australia and ASC) have signed Australia's Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) Phase III contract signalling the start of building. The AWD Alliance is committed to working together as an integrated team to deliver the Royal Australian Navy's next generation Hobart Class AWDs. The AWDs will provide air defence for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in proximate coastal areas and for selfprotection against attacking missiles and aircraft.

Ron Fisher, Managing Director of Raytheon Australia was positive about the achievement, "Today’s milestone is about our commitment to deliver NoDoubt™ Mission Assurance to the RAN through Raytheon’s expertise as a Mission Systems Integrator. We’ve prepared well in the earlier phases and today marks the moment when the Alliance begins building Australia’s most advanced ships” he said.

As the AWD Mission Systems Integrator, Raytheon Australia will ‘Australianise’ the combat system around the Aegis core. The contract, worth $1.4billion (US$1.2billion) to Raytheon, covers the design, development and procurement of the Australianised Combat System. Dan Smith, President of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and member of the AWD Principals' Council affirmed the importance of the program to Raytheon.

"Our strong pedigree as a Mission Systems Integrator provides our Australian team with Reachback™ – the ability to draw on the company's collective wealth of experience and expertise for the program's success. Raytheon is proud to be a partner with this team in what will be the most advanced shipbuilding project in Australia's history," he said.

Raytheon Australia was selected for the AWD Alliance in April 2005 and will continue to partner with Australian industry over the life of the project. Further information about industry involvement can be found at www.ausawd.com and www.raytheon.com.au 

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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 some 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 Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). Raytheon Company, with 2006 sales of $20.3 billion, is a technology leader specialising in defence, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 85 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 73,000 people worldwide.