Raytheon Awarded $270 Million Contract Modification to Incorporate Computer Human Interface Changes to the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System.

Business/Technology Editors

MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTNA; RTNB) announced today that it was awarded a $270 million contract change from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to incorporate modifications to the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS).

This contract modification definitizes the design, development, test and implementation of modifications to the STARS computer-human-interface. Raytheon, the FAA, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) have been working together for two years to define the desired modifications to STARS. Raytheon has already initiated the start of these desired modifications and will deliver them to the FAA in a series of incremental releases.

"This contract modification is the result of extensive cooperation and collaboration among the FAA, NATCA, PASS and Raytheon to clearly define the desired characteristics of the final STARS implementation," said Bill Voss, the FAA's director for Air Traffic Systems Development. "This work creates a clear path for full STARS deployment."

Once STARS completes development, it will provide ATC automation for any size facility. Major advantages of the STARS system include new high-resolution color displays that are 30 percent larger than the displays they replace. STARS provides a high reliability, open architecture design with significant built-in growth capability allowing for easy and rapid incorporation of new data processing enhancements and new technologies planned for the terminal area.

STARS is a joint procurement for the FAA and the Department of Defense. The early display configuration of STARS is installed and operational in El Paso, Texas and Syracuse, N.Y. Raytheon is under contract to develop and install STARS at 173 FAA terminal area control facilities and up to 199 military radar approach control facilities and associated ATC towers over the next decade.

Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, Mass., is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics and business and special mission aircraft. It has operations throughout the United States and serves customers in more than 80 countries.