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21 Jan 2025

Raytheon Nets $333m SM-6 Missile Deal

Raytheon Nets $333m SM-6 Missile Deal
An SM-6 missile being test-fired. Image: Raytheon.

RTX firm Raytheon has won a $333 million contract to produce more Block IA versions of its Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) projectiles for the U.S. Navy.

The versatile missile can be used against air threats, land-based assets and surface ships, as well as for ballistic missile defence.

As per a recent RTX press statement, production has already begun and final deliveries of the unspecified number of missiles are expected to be completed in 2027.

The missile is powered by a two-stage solid rocket booster and travels at about three-and-a-half times the speed of sound. Its official range is stated as about 130 nautical miles (240km) but some sources claim it could be as high as 250 nautical miles (460km).

In late 2023 and early 2024 SM-6 missiles were reportedly successfully used to intercept ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. And in March 2024, an SM-6 projectile downed a medium-range ballistic missile target at sea during the Flight Test Aegis Weapon System (FTM)-32 exercise, as per RTX.

President of Naval Power at Raytheon Barbara Borgonovi commented: “SM-6 has a proven performance, and this contract is an important step for providing this urgently needed weapon to our armed forces.

“Raytheon continues to work closely with our customers to ensure our military has an unfair advantage at sea and to keep our adversaries guessing."

  • You can read more details about the new contract on the RTX website

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