Raytheon Secures $333M U.S. Navy Contract for SM-6 Block IA Missile Production

Raytheon has been awarded a $333 million contract by the U.S. Navy to produce Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Block IA missiles.

Production under this contract will be completed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Ariz., Huntsville, Ala., Andover, Mass., and Dine, N.M. with expected completion by 2027.

The SM-6 integrates anti-air, anti-surface warfare, and sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense into one system. It performed medium-range ballistic missile interception during the March 2024 Flight Test Aegis Weapon System (FTM)-32 exercise. Deployed on U.S. Navy ships, the missile offers both offensive and defensive capabilities with a range of 130 to 250 nautical miles.

The SM-6 Block IA features GPS guidance for surface target strikes. The Block IB variant aims to offer greater range and speed, achieving hypersonic speeds for both aerial and surface targets. It will provide additional capabilities in hypersonic defense, pending the completion of the Glide Phase Interceptor.