RTX’s Raytheon was awarded a contract valued at $333 million by the US Navy to produce Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Block IA missiles.
According to RTX, production under this agreement will be completed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama; Andover, Massachusetts, and Dine, New Mexico. It is expected to reach completion by 2027.
The SM-6 missile is the only weapon that can perform anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and ballistic missile defense or sea-based terminal missions.
RTX described the missile as a “sophisticated multi-mission warfare” weapon that can deliver:
- Anti-air warfare: The SM-6 missile delivered on its initial mission to provide anti-air warfare support to the US Navy by engaging manned and unmanned aircraft attacks and cruise missiles.
- Ballistic missile defense: The weapon can protect ships against ballistic missiles in their final phase of flight.
- Anti-surface warfare: The SM-6 missile has demonstrated the ability to hit a surface target, and it can strike from any ship or location, supporting the Navy’s pursuit of sea control.
- Continuous evolution: SM-6 effectors are the result of decades of work by Raytheon rocket scientists who have developed technology that is trusted to protect our country and warfighters at sea and on land. The design leverages investment from multiple services in surface-to-air and air-to-air technology and reduces lifecycle costs by incorporating trusted components.