Technology Solutions

Raytheon's success depends on technological innovation. Knowing this, we systematically cultivate a mindset of openness to new ideas, flexible collaboration, and continual pursuit of new and better ways to do things. The result has been a stream of large and small breakthroughs that have repeatedly enabled us to meet and exceed our customers' expectations. Recent examples include:

Controlled Impact Rescue Tool

Under the headline, "A Concrete Smasher For Rescue Crews," Popular Science® described Raytheon's Controlled Impact Rescue Tool (CIRT) as a fast way to reach victims in a collapsed building. CIRT's innovative design uses shock waves to pulverize concrete, enabling it to shatter a concrete wall in 13 minutes, compared with more than 30 minutes for conventional methods. In situations where every minute counts, this difference can save lives.

SM-3 Satellite Intercept

One example of Raytheon innovation captured worldwide attention in February 2008 as we played a pivotal role in the successful intercept of a non-functioning satellite. The company's Standard Missile-3 intercepted the target 153 miles over the Pacific Ocean. Our Sea-Based X-band radar tracked the satellite prior to the missile engagement and performed the hit assessment afterward. Throughout the process, Raytheon engineers worked closely with our customers to ensure mission success.

Active Protection System

Raytheon's Active Protection System (APS) ranked #8 among TIME® Magazine's "50 Best Inventions of 2008." TIME described APS as "Star Wars for soldiers," noting that by protecting soldiers from short-range attack, it also enables the Army to develop vehicles requiring less armor. APS uses vertical launch technology to intercept rocket-propelled grenades or anti-tank guided missiles coming from any direction — "hitting bullets with bullets" through an innovative "pop and pitch" approach whereby the interceptor launches (pops up) vertically from the vehicle, pitches over, then intercepts and destroys the threat while blowing debris from the intercepted weapon downward toward the ground. TIME's Best Inventions citation reflects our commitment to delivering the very best force protection technology to our men and women in uniform.