Raytheon announced that it has been awarded a multiyear undefinitized contract action (UCA) for full-rate production of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB…
The contract is valued at $4.43 billion, and with options its total value could reach $6.34 billion.
Work on the missile is expected to be completed by the end of 2034.
Developed by the United States for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, the SM-3 Block IB is an interceptor designed to destroy ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere during the midcourse phase of flight.
Instead of an explosive warhead, it destroys its target by colliding directly with it using a kinetic kill vehicle.
Compared with the Block IA, the Block IB has an improved two-color infrared seeker and better target discrimination.
It can be launched from Aegis-equipped warships and from land-based Aegis Ashore sites…