The Pentagon awards Raytheon a $745 million contract to produce advanced SM-3 missiles - Sarmad

Raytheon announced the signing of a new contract with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to support the production and maintenance of SM-3 Block IIA interceptors, as part of the company’s investments to expand its capabilities and accelerate delivery operations.

According to Naval News, the company secured a $745 million contract from the agency for the production and maintenance of the missiles.

The website quoted Barbara Burginovi, head of the Naval Power division at Raytheon, stating that the SM-3 Block IIA missile is a cornerstone of regional defense, providing the United States and its allies with greater range, precision, and confidence in countering evolving threats.

She added, “We have consistently invested in our production lines and operations, enabling us to increase production capacity and deliver these critical munitions to our customers more quickly.”

The SM-3 IIA program was developed through collaboration between the Japanese industry and Raytheon. It features a larger rocket motor and an enhanced kinetic warhead compared to its predecessors, allowing it to counter threats more rapidly and protect broader areas from short- to medium-range ballistic missile threats.