Raytheon has entered full-rate production for Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IIA, validating the program’s design maturity.
It comes months after the US Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon a $1.9-billion production contract for the latest SM-3 variant for both the US government and the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
The work will take place through February 2031.
“SM-3 Block IIA is a testament to the continuing partnership with Japanese industry to mature ballistic missile defense capabilities for the defense of our nation and our allies around the globe,” President of Naval Power at Raytheon Barbara Borgonovi said.
“This milestone indicates that the team has achieved full maturity in the missile’s design which leads to greater efficiencies throughout the program.”
First Operational Deployment
Demand has risen for the ballistic missile interceptor over the last year amid conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The Block IIA was operationally debuted by the US Navy in April while fending off Iran’s first missile attack on Israel.
USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and USS Carney (DDG-64), in the Eastern Mediterranean, fired four to seven missiles to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles, according to US defense officials.
Missile Features
The IIA variant features larger rocket motors and an enhanced kinetic warhead compared to its predecessors, enabling it to engage threats faster and protect a broader area from short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
The Missile Defense Agency, Japan Ministry of Defense, and their industry partners (Raytheon and Japanese industry) jointly developed the missile, with the first test taking place in 2015.
It knocks out a target through sheer force and features a range of 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) and a flight ceiling of 900 to 1,050 kilometers (559 to 652 miles).