Pentagon awards $6.3 billion contract to Raytheon for missile interceptors
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Pentagon awards $6.3 billion contract to Raytheon for missile interceptors
The Pentagon awarded Raytheon a $6.3 billion multi-year procurement contract on Thursday to produce Standard Missile–3 Block IB (SM-3 Blk IB) interceptors.
© Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press file
“Our warfighters must never face a fair fight, and the SM-3 Blk IB has proven its operational superiority to dominate any adversary across the globe,” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey said in a statement.
“This contract provides production certainty to our defense industrial base, breaks sub-tier manufacturing bottlenecks, and ensures that our fleets and combatant commands have the interceptors required to dominate the battle space — air, sea or land,” Duffey continued.
SM-3s can down short or medium-range ballistic missiles at sea or on land.
U.S. Navy destroyers have relied on SM-3s against Iranian ballistic missiles during the ongoing conflict.
SM-3 B variant, which was first launched in 2014, has an enhanced two-color infrared seeker, upgraded steering and propulsion that relies on short bursts to get to the target, according to Raytheon.
The contract spans five years, with two additional option years, according to the Pentagon.
“In addition, it eliminates the programmatic and supply-chain friction that constrains private-sector capacity, forcing capital allocation directly into assembly lines, solid-rocket motor suppliers and critical domestic sub-tier vendors,” the Pentagon said.
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