UNITED STATES ATTORNEY JOYCE WHITE VANCE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			CONTACT: PEGGY SANFORD
	AUGUST 25, 2009			PHONE: (205) 244-2020
	www.usdoj.gov/usao/aln			FAX: (205) 244-2171

U.S. ARMY AND RAYTHEON COMPANY SETTLE DISPUTE OVER MISSILE COMPONENT TESTING

The United States Department of the Army and Raytheon Company agreed Tuesday to settle a dispute over testing on a component used in the Patriot Missile, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance announced today.

The Army’s Defense Contract Management Agency had charged that Raytheon provided the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command with a component part that did not meet all the contractual testing requirements for structural and mechanical properties of the component. The part was an internal thread ring used in the radome assembly, which caps the missile. The thread rings were manufactured from about 1999 through 2002.

As part of the settlement, Raytheon will pay the government $212,915.

At issue was whether Raytheon performed the specific structural and mechanical tests that the company’s contract with the Army stated would be performed.

The government has not identified any performance or field failures connected to the thread rings in the Patriot Missile and claims no deficiencies in the missile’s performance.

“Raytheon and its counsel diligently worked with the government to reach a fair settlement and avoid the need for costly litigation,” Vance said.

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