I don’t understand if Raytheon knew he was working on military stuff; he had top-secret clearance; and the computer belonged to Raytheon - why was he allowed to take it out of the country? It wasn’t even his.
How much money does Raytheon make if we have to gear up for a war with China?
That only works if the Chinese have geared up for a war with the US.
Get with the plan.
He wasn't. A classified computer could only be couriered by a card-carrying courier from one facility with secure storage to another facility with secure storage. That's it. There is no "taking it home" - period. When you courier, you don't stop for fast food, you don't stop for gas, bathroom, nada. You make a beeline from point A to point B.
I have a close associate that works there. Company policy is that even "normal" - ie. unclassified company laptops do not leave the country. If you are travelling outside the US, you are given a loaner laptop. You do not access company networks from it while overseas, or after. When you return, it is wiped. I'm not sure but I believe any company proprietary info on the computer is heavily encrypted.
The Elitebook is a compact computer, If they did not check his backpack or briefcase properly on exit he could have gotten it out unnoticed. If they told him not to take it he showed malicious intent. In ten years he had received regular counterespionage briefings at Raytheon. This is as in your face as it gets.