Raytheon to Provide Satellite Program Sensors

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 15 -- Raytheon Co. will provide prime contractor TRW up to seven visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) instruments for the national Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).

Under the contract, Raytheon will continue to design, develop, test and deliver three VIIRS flight units. The contract includes options for four additional units through 2014.

The first Raytheon VIIRS instrument is scheduled for launch in 2006 on the NPOESS preparatory project spacecraft.

NPOESS is the low-Earth orbiting polar satellite system for accurate weather forecasting. NPOESS will replace the Department of Commerce's Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites and the Department of Defense's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites. VIIRS will provide meteorological data for environmental data records, including imagery, sea surface temperature, low-light imaging and ocean color.

For more information, visit: www.raytheon.com