Northrop taps Raytheon for systems help

Raytheon Co. won a subcontract to provide information security systems for the Homeland Security Department's Homeland Secure Data Network, officials of the Waltham, Mass., company announced today.

The subcontract is initially worth $600,000, and could be worth $19 million or more over seven years, said Raytheon spokeswoman Patricia Perlini.

Northrop Grumman Information Technology, the Herndon, Va., prime contractor of HSDN, awarded the subcontract to Raytheon. Northrop Grumman will design, implement and operate HSDN, a private, certified network for the secure communication of classified information.

"Raytheon has a vital role in HSDN: to protect and defend the classified information network against potential invasion by hackers, viruses and other destructive forces," said Hugo Poza, vice president of Raytheon's Homeland Security Strategic Business Area.

The HSDN subcontract builds upon Raytheon's four-year involvement in the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet program, Raytheon officials said. The company developed, implemented and maintained information security systems for NMCI's 300,000 users and its four network operation centers.

Raytheon had 2003 revenue of $18.1 billion. The company employs 78,000 people worldwide, and ranked No. 7 on Washington Technology's 2004 list of top federal IT prime contractors.

The Homeland Security Department announced the award of HSDN to Northrop Grumman in April.