Raytheon to Support SM-3 Block IB Program

Raytheon has won a $14 million modification contract from the US to provide continued production support and engineering for the Standard Missile SM-3 Block IB program.

The SM-3 is a ship-based missile system used to intercept short and intermediate range ballistic missiles as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The SM-3 Block IB interceptor has an enhanced two-color infrared seeker and upgraded steering and propulsion capability that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to direct the missile toward incoming targets. It became operational in 2014, deploying for the first time on US Navy ships worldwide.

The missile is thought of have a maximum operational range of 2,500 km (1,350 miles). It also carries a much more advanced kill vehicle than previous SM interceptor variants. Its “kill vehicle” hits threats with the force of a 10-ton truck traveling 600 mph.

In September last year, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and MDA, in cooperation with the US Navy conducted a successful test of the Aegis Baseline 9/BMD 5.0 combat system that involved the test firing of a SM-3 Block IB interceptor missile launched from a Japanese guided-missile destroyer.

Work will be completed by October 2019.