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Raytheon has announced it has achieved full-rate production for the Standard Missile 3 Block IIA, amid increased demand from the US and allied partners.
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Full-rate production signals that there is no elevated design or manufacturing risk in the missile and validates its reliability and performance.
This SM-3 Block IIA production milestone has cleared the way for a US$1.9 billion (AU$2.83 billion) award from the US Missile Defense Agency in July 2024 to produce rounds for both the US government and Japan Ministry of Defense.
Barbara Borgonovi, president of naval power at Raytheon, welcomed this announcement, saying, “SM-3 Block IIA is a testament to the continuing partnership with Japanese industry to mature ballistic missile defence capabilities for the defence of our nation and our allies around the globe.”
SM-3 Block IIA, created in a landmark cooperative development program between MDA, Japan’s Ministry of Defense and their industry partners (Raytheon and Japanese industry), is the first MDA-procured program of its kind to achieve this manufacturing milestone.
“This milestone indicates that the team has achieved full maturity in the missile’s design which leads to greater efficiencies throughout the program,” Borgonovi said.
The SM-3 Block IIA features larger rocket motors and an enhanced kinetic warhead compared to its predecessors, allowing it to engage threats faster and protect larger regions from short to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.
The interceptor uses sheer force, rather than an explosive warhead, to destroy its target. Its “kill vehicle” hits threats with the force of a 10-tonne truck travelling 600 miles per hour. This technique, referred to as “hit-to-kill,” has been likened to intercepting a bullet with another bullet.
In cooperation with Japan, Raytheon is developing the next-generation SM-3 Block IIA interceptor. It has two distinct new features: larger rocket motors that will allow it to defend broader areas from ballistic missile threats and a larger kinetic warhead.
Completing the first live target test in 2017, the SM-3 IIA missile intercepted an advanced ballistic missile threat in its first live target test in early 2017.
The Block IIA variant is the centerpiece of the European missile defence system. It will be deployed ashore in Poland to complete phase 3 of the European Phased Adaptive Approach.
