Raytheon Bags US Navy Missile And Radar Contracts Worth $1.6bn
)
RTX firm Raytheon has secured twin deals from the U.S. Navy to provide it with extra Sidewinder missiles and new SPY-6 radars together worth in excess of $1.6 billion.
Yesterday (Wednesday) the firm released a press statement saying it had been awarded a $1.1 billion contract to increase production of its AIM-9X Block II missiles to 2,500 missiles per year.
The news follows hot on the heels of a previous disclosure revealing it had been awarded a $536 million follow-on contract which included upgrading U.S.Navy Flight IIA destroyers with the SPY-6 (V)4 radar by May 2026.
The Sidewinder AIM-9X Block II is used by over 30 allied and partner nations, making it one of the most widely used missiles in the Western world. The combat-proven weapon is a short-range missile which can be used for both air-to-air and surface-to-air engagements.
As per Raytheon: “AIM-9X is the most advanced infrared-tracking, short-range, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile that is combat proven in several theatres around the world. It is configured for easy installation on a wide range of modern aircraft and provides proven layered defence with ground-launched capabilities.”
Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, commented: "This award represents a historic milestone for the AIM-9X program, further emphasizing its importance to the U.S. and partnered nations.”
And talking about the radar contract, Borgonovi commented: “SPY-6 is the most advanced radar in the U.S. naval fleet, providing ships a new level of defence against evolving threats.”
She added: “This contract highlights the essential role of this technology in supporting the U.S. Navy’s technology roadmap for several decades to come.”
The first ship to be fitted with the SPY-6 system, offering enhanced defences against air, surface, and ballistic threats, was the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas; the second was USS Richard M. McCool Jr.
Three ships are currently being fitted with evolutions of SPY-6, which will eventually be deployed on more than 60 U.S. Navy vessels as part of a wider $3 billion contract awarded back in 2022.