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Raytheon Purchases Rights to KillerBee(R) Unmanned Aircraft System

Posted on: Friday, 1 May 2009, 09:00 CDT

Technology will be used for U.S. Navy Small Tactical UAS Tier II, other competitions

TUCSON, Ariz., May 1, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has purchased rights to the technology and name of the KillerBee unmanned aircraft system from Northrop Grumman. Under the agreement, Raytheon will submit the KillerBee for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps' Small Tactical UAS and Tier II competition.

"We're competing for STUAS Tier II but that is only the beginning," said Bob Francois, Raytheon Missile Systems Advanced Programs vice president. "Raytheon has rights to produce, improve and sell KillerBee IV and our plan is to continuously mature the system and tailor it to meet the needs of allied warfighters around the globe."

The KillerBee UAS features a blended-wing aircraft body design. It also has common systems for land or sea launch, recovery and ground control. The unique design of KillerBee enables growth for future payloads and additional mission capabilities.

KillerBee is ideal for force protection in an expeditionary environment, and represents a major upgrade to today's embedded airborne surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition capability.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 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 87 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.

SOURCE Raytheon Company

Source: PR Newswire

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