Official says Raytheon has ‘solid future’

Camden News August 26, 2009

   EAST CAMDEN (AP) — Raytheon Missile Systems gathered its employees Tuesday to mark a production milestone for a line of surface-to-air naval missiles, and officials told the workers that their jobs appear to be assured for at least another decade or so.
   "We’ve got a solid foundation and a solid future for the (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile)," said Navy Capt. Mike Anderson, a missile program officer based in Washington.
   The plant’s 150 workers assemble and test the Evolved Sea Sparrow, which is designed to be fired from ships at incoming cruise missiles.
   Workers accepted congratulations for shipping their 1,000th Evolved Sea Sparrow missile, more than doubling monthly production to 45 missiles in May and producing 30 per month since. The missiles are used by 20 classes of ships among a dozen nations.
   The Evolved Sea Sparrow "is the defense weapon of choice for modern navies worldwide," said Frank Wyatt, vice president of naval weapon systems for Raytheon.
   The plant also makes Tomahawk cruise missiles and several types of standard missiles. The missile parts are manufactured at plants in 10 countries and brought together in East Camden. 

   Another missile, the Aegis SM-3 —a quickly modified version of which was used last year to shoot down an ailing satellite —will receive sensor and propulsion upgrades in a new generation planned for production at East Camden. A larger version, 63 percent greater in diameter, is also planned, Wyatt said.
   A future version of the Evolved Sea Sparrow will have its own radar, a leap from being limited to hitting targets only in range of the ship’s radar.
   "This will extend the capability over the horizon; it can fly outside what the ship can see," Wyatt said.
   The U.S. and its allies have only fired the Evolved Sea Sparrow in tests since 2001, Raytheon spokesman John Eagle said. "There is no sea-based threat in the war on terror," he said. "They are continually tested and fired from U.S. and consortium ships."
   The 300-acre facility is at Highland Industrial Park, home to dozens of defense contractors. What is now Raytheon’s East Camden operation began at an airport site under General Dynamics in 1990. The business was bought by Hughes Missile Systems four years later, then Raytheon bought it in 1998. Raytheon moved missile assembly functions from California and Tennessee to East Camden.
   Officials who addressed the workers Tuesday said they expect the plant to sustain its role for at least another decade. "We have a very bright future," Wyatt said.
   Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., told employees that the quality of work at the Raytheon plant helps attract other businesses. "You have paved the way for industry in southern Arkansas," Pryor said.
   Raytheon Co., based in Waltham Mass., has 73,000 employees world wide and had 2008 sales of $23.2 billion.