Date posted: 10/12/2007*

Q: Describe the history of your organization.
A: Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) is currently celebrating its 100th year since it was originally established in 1908 as the A.C. Cossor Company, which has been a household name to generations of people in the U.K. as a producer of home radios. During World War II, A.C. Cossor developed the first radar system and partnered with Raytheon in the U.S. to produce the crucial magnetron tubes. In 1961, Raytheon acquired A.C. Cossor, and with the subsequent acquisition of Hughes Defense and Texas Instruments in 1997, Raytheon Systems Limited was formed. Currently, we have 1,600 employees at sites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including our new state-of-the-art Systems Integration Centre in western London.

Q: How have you contributed to the safety, security and protection of the U.K.?
A: We have been providing the U.K. with critical defense and security technologies for a century. Today we provide software development and secondary radars for the latest air traffic control systems, both in the U.K. and around the world. Our Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) system delivers world-class intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the Royal Air Force. Our Paveway IV Precision Guided Bomb and the Javelin antitank weapon are used by the British armed forces, and our Joint Effects Tactical Targeting system is enhancing battlefield targeting for the British army.

For U.K. preparedness, we are part of the team that has been selected as preferred bidder for the U.K.'s Defense Training Rationalization (DTR) program, a major training initiative. In addition, we are working on network-enabled solutions for programs such as NATO’s ARRC C2IS and the U.K.’s NITEworks. We also support the U.K. government’s secure information and technology needs on multiple classified programs.

Q: What would you highlight as core competencies for RSL?
A: With the support of Raytheon's businesses, combined with RSL's own extensive portfolio of resources and skills, we have demonstrated solid capability to address all of Raytheon's core markets. In addition, we are a leader in MSI, as demonstrated by our selection for the U.K. government's DTR program.  But most of all, I'm proud of the fact that we are the only U.S. defense company operating in the U.K. today that can claim to be a truly vertically integrated company, with a full range of development and production capabilities including semiconductors, software and more. Our company is such a strong production base that fully 40% of our revenues are for exports, going to 40 countries worldwide.

Today, RSL looks back on a proud record for a full century. And I’m confident that our next 100 years will show equal leadership in creating new technologies and in rising to the changing challenges and opportunities ahead.

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