Raytheon: Rival lured staff, stole technology

WASHINGTON -- Raytheon Co., the world's biggest missile maker, sued rival FLIR Systems Inc., accusing it of usurping lucrative contracts by luring away workers, infringing four patents, and stealing technology used in infrared cameras.

A former high-ranking Raytheon executive left the company in March 1996 to start Indigo Systems Corp., Raytheon said in a complaint filed March 2 in federal court in Sherman, Texas.

Since then Indigo, which FLIR bought for $165 million in 2004 and which also was named in the suit, has hired away dozens of Raytheon employees who know its trade secrets, according to the suit.

"But for Indigo's wrongful misappropriation and use of Raytheon's proprietary technology and patented inventions" FLIR wouldn't have gotten "major government contracts," Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon said in the suit.

Raytheon cited FLIR's contract for work on the Joint Strike Fighter program, the costliest weapons project ever at $276 billion overall, and its $26.4 million pact for work on the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter among those won using the disputed technology.

The complaint seeks cash compensation, an order directing the return of all materials related to trade secrets and a ban on FLIR's use of the infrared technology.

FLIR spokesman Tony Trunzo declined to comment on the suit.

Wilsonville, Ore.-based FLIR, a maker of infrared night-vision cameras, last month said fourth-quarter earnings increased 16 percent on higher sales of heat-detection and imaging products.

FLIR shares fell 19 cents to $33.16 on Nasdaq. Raytheon rose 5 cents to $52.66 on the New York Stock Exchange.