LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 15, 1999 - Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTNA, RTNB) announced today that the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) has accepted two F-16 Mid-Life Update (MLU) unit level trainers, the first such simulators to be used by a European air force. Both Raytheon-built simulators are being used for transition and continuation training of F-16 fighter pilots.

The F-16 MLU program is designed to extend the effectiveness of current F-16 A/B aircraft operated by the European Participating Air Forces for the next 10 to 20 years. As part of this MLU program, the RDAF has updated its F-16 Block 15 aircraft with a modern avionics suite, weapon upgrades and improved radar capability.

The two high-fidelity F-16 trainers supplied by Raytheon are enabling RDAF pilots to hone their skills in normal, emergency and instrument procedures; electronic jamming and countermeasures; and all elements of air-to-air and air-to-surface combat.

"The two F-16 unit level trainers delivered will satisfy Danish F-16 MLU pilot training requirements in all areas of the operational envelope, including conversion, basic tactics and more advanced tactics," said Henning Kibenich, the RDAF's F-16 MLU procurement engineer. "This capability is enhanced even further due to the simulators being networked via a local area network that follows distributed interactive simulation protocol."

Each simulator provides a high-fidelity image generation system, which produces the out-the-window visual scenes and simultaneously supports real-time simulation. Pilots view high-resolution, out-the-window visual scenes on a three-window rear projection display that provides a 120° horizontal by 30° vertical field-of-view.

"The success of RDAF F-16 MLU trainer program is due in large part to close customer interaction," said Gary Nesta, director of Flight Simulation at Raytheon Systems Company. "The customer's leadership was critical to the success of the integrated team that oversaw the development of two highly-capable and flexible trainers which will support Denmark's F-16 pilot training requirements."

The trainers, which occupy a small amount of floor space, can be easily transported and operate within a typical squadron office environment.

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