Will Shift Operations To El Segundo

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) announced Thursday the company will begin transferring the civil space work performed at its Goleta, CA facility to Raytheon Company's Center of Excellence for space sensor systems technology in El Segundo, CA. As a result of this consolidation, the Goleta civil space operation -- also known as Santa Barbara Remote Sensing (SBRS) -- will close in early 2008.

The work will begin transitioning immediately and continue in phases over the next year and a half until the closure of the plant. SBRS currently employs 250 people, all of whom will be affected by this consolidation by either attrition, transfer or layoff. Laid-off employees will be given the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Raytheon facilities. All El Segundo-based employees who have been on temporary assignment in Goleta will return to work in El Segundo.

Santa Barbara Remote Sensing is one of three Raytheon businesses in Goleta. The other businesses, Electronic Warfare Systems and Vision Systems, are not affected by this action and will continue to operate in Goleta.

Raytheon associates tell ANN programs currently underway at Goleta include the Glory Aerosol Polarimeter Sensor, the first-ever space-qualified aerosol polarimeter to measure climate changes; and the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite, an advanced infrared sensing suite that is part of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) currently in development to replace the current generation of civilian and military weather satellites.

"While it is never an easy decision to close a facility, the challenges of our civil space programs require the unique skills and resources available at our SAS El Segundo headquarters," said Jon Jones, SAS president.

Raytheon SAS provides sensor systems that give warfighters most accurate and timely information available for the network-centric battlefield. With 2005 revenues of $4.2 billion and 13,000 employees, SAS is headquartered in El Segundo, CA, with additional facilities in Goleta, CA; Forest, MS; Dallas, McKinney and Plano, TX; and several international locations.

Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.

FMI: www.raytheon.com/businesses/rsas/