AEROSPACE

Defense Cutbacks Prompt Raytheon Layoffs: The Lexington, Mass.-based company said Friday that it will lay off 961 employees, or 1.5% of its work force of 61,379, as part of a restructuring forced by defense cuts. Most of the workers are based in New England, with 533 at Raytheon’s missile-making plants in Andover and Lowell, Mass., a spokesman said. The Lowell facility is being closed. A total of 796 workers will be laid off in the missile systems division, 137 in the equipment division and 28 in the construction and engineering business.