BCA member to help expand Navy’s anti-missile program

Membership Spotlight


The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Business Council of Alabama member the Raytheon Co. a $559.2 million contract to produce at 44 anti-missile missiles that will receive final assembly at Raytheon’s facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, the company announced today.

Raytheon will produce Standard Missile-3 Block IBs, which are guided missiles used by the U.S. Navy to provide regional defense against short- to -intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. The Defense Department announced the contract on Thursday.

SM-3 Block IBs destroy incoming ballistic missiles in space by slamming into them with the force of a 10-ton truck going 600 mph.

Raytheon initially will deliver 44 Standard Missile-3 Block IBs and provide the work required to produce and deliver third-stage rocket motor reliability growth and design enhancements, Raytheon said. The government said it intends to buy additional missiles.

“We’ve consistently demonstrated the SM-3 Block IB’s quality, and now combatant commanders are focused on building up their quantities,” said Dr. Mitch Stevison, Standard Missile-3 senior program director. “This contract award reflects the confidence the Missile Defense Agency has in this missile’s regional ballistic missile defense protection.”

The SM-3 Block IBs, first deployed in 2013, will be sent to Romania this year in line with the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach, the U.S.’s plan for missile defense in Europe, the company said.

More than 200 SM-3s have been delivered to the U.S. and Japan, Raytheon said. SM-3 Block IIAs are on track for deployment at sea and ashore in 2018 in Poland.

 – Dana Beyerle