The Netherlands awards Raytheon competitively bid laser-guided missile contract

Tucson, AZ--The Netherlands awarded Raytheon Company a competitively bid contract for the combat-proven Enhanced Paveway II laser-guided munition (PGM). The contract, which is a direct commercial sale for an undisclosed sum, will provide the Netherlands with 200 kits to convert 500-pound "dumb" bombs into the GBU-49, a precision weapon that has been used extensively in Iraq.

"The Netherlands' selection of Enhanced Paveway II provides its Air Force the world's only combat-proven, dual-mode, laser-guided weapon in production today," said Harry Schulte, VP of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security, and other government markets throughout the world. With headquarters in Waltham, MA, Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

For more information, visit www.raytheon.com.