Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, one of the nation's leading defense contractors, has announced plans to add employees at its Tewksbury headquarters.

The Town Crier first reported the news over the weekend, though Raytheon declined to specify exactly how many employees would be added.

In a public statement, Raytheon spokesman David Howell seemed to indicate that the employees coming to Tewksbury would be transfers from other Raytheon facilities, rather than new hires.

"As part of an ongoing effort to evaluate our real estate allocations, IDS is planning to move additional employees to Tewksbury," said Howell. "This decision will help to ensure we are maximizing our available real estate and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the town. We're proud to call Tewksbury home and believe it's an outstanding location for our employees."

Town Manager Richard Montouri told the Town Crier Raytheon was "community-oriented" and has been a "real asset" to the town. He said he was pleased the company was adding employees to the Tewksbury facility.