For 2002, the company forecast double-digit growth in earnings and revenue. Elsewhere, Raytheon said its defense business was strong in the latest fourth quarter, with sales up 10% from the year-earlier period, but weakness in the company's commercial aircraft business contributed to a net loss for the three months ended Dec. 31. The company, which projected solid growth for 2002, posted fourth-quarter sales of $4.6 billion, up from $4.4 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2000. Earnings from continuing operations totaled $57 million, or 15 cents a share, down from $190 million or 55 cents a year earlier. The latest fourth quarter was hurt by a high tax rate resulting from a charge at the company's Raytheon Aircraft division. Excluding the charge, Raytheon earned 40 cents in the quarter, a penny shy of Wall Street's expecatations. Including all costs and items, the company lost $106 million, or 28 cents a share.