LEXINGTON, MASS., Oct. 1, 1998 -- Raytheon Systems Company, a unit of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTNA, RTNB), announced today it has been given approval to proceed on a not-to-exceed contract worth $26.2 million from the U.S. Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center to deliver four F-16 unit training device simulators to the Egyptian Air Force (EAF).

The EAF F-16 Unit Training Device (UTD) contract award was released under an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract Raytheon Systems Company received from the Air Force in 1996.

Under the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract umbrella, Raytheon Systems Company previously has received contract awards to deliver F-16 UTDs to South Korea, Bahrain and Jordan. Raytheon Systems Company currently is under contract to deliver a combined total of 12 F-16 UTDs to Egypt, South Korea, Bahrain and Jordan.

"We're looking forward to establishing a mutually beneficial and long-lasting unit training relationship with the Egyptian Air Force," said Gary Nesta, director of Flight Simulation at Raytheon Systems Company. "The F-16 unit training device's open system architecture will enable us to deliver trainers that meet Egyptian Air Force training needs today while providing an upgrade path that will enable us to enhance the simulators as future training requirements emerge."

In addition to allowing EAF pilots to practice take offs and landings, emergency procedures and interact with the aircraft's avionics, the UTDs will enable pilots to hone their air-to-air and air-to-ground skills within a tactical environment.

During these training exercises -- which can occur under a variety of simulated weather conditions -- EAF pilots will be able to acquire and identify targets and accurately deliver a wide range of weapon systems.

Raytheon Systems Company also is building a geo-specific visual system database, which will encompass most of Egypt. The visual system database will enable EAF F-16 pilots to realistically practice takeoffs and landings, formation flight, low-level navigation and a wide range of tactical skills. In addition, each trainer will provide terrain correlation between the out-the-window visual scene and radar and other sensor displays by using a master database.

The F-16 UTDs will be integrated with a single channel, rear projection display system that provides a 60° vertical by 80° horizontal field-of-view.

In addition to foreign government sales, Raytheon Systems Company also is currently under contract with the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to deliver 68 F-16 UTDs. To date, Raytheon Systems Company has delivered 65 of the F-16 UTDs to 35 active and reserve bases.

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.