This is not Raytheon’s usual specialty. Why would Russia bring in an international defense contractor to train car mechanics and salesmen?

RUESSELSHEIM, Germany, Oct. 22, 2008 Raytheon — Raytheon Professional Services LLC (RPS), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), has opened a training center in Samara, Russia, to provide basic and advanced technical and sales training for automotive dealerships.

The 200 square-meter (more than 2100 square feet) center will employ training and administrative personnel who will provide services in Russian. The center was officially dedicated Sept. 29, 2008. Training services began at the center in June.

“For several decades Raytheon has delivered mission-critical training to commercial and government customers around the world,” said George Nimmo, RPS’ managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “One of RPS’ differentiators is our ability not only to support customers in their established markets, but also to help drive their growth in new markets.”

The Samara center’s launch is part of a larger RPS plan to open several training centers throughout Russia during the next 18 months.

“The Russian automotive market offers significant opportunities for automotive manufacturers and dealerships, but they encounter a very real potential for shortages in skilled labor,” said Beth Hockemeyer, RPS’ Russia country manager. “By opening a new training center in Samara, we increase the availability of a skilled workforce to sell and service vehicles in the Volga Federal District.”

A business unit of Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC, RPS is a global leader in training services and outsourcing. With 900 learning professionals serving clients in 78 countries and 28 languages, RPS improves clients’ business performance by redesigning how they train their employees, customers and partners; implementing their new training design; and managing their training in long-term outsourcing engagements.

Raytheon Company, with 2007 sales of $21.3 billion, is a technology leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 86 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.