The US company Raytheon has started full-scale production of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA. This confirms that the product is ready for development. In July 2024, both the US government and the Japanese Ministry of Defence commissioned the production of the missiles.
The contract is worth 1.9 billion US dollars. This is a first for a binational contract awarded by the Missile Defence Agency (MDA) to reach production readiness, and work at the Raytheon sites in Tucson, Arizona, and Huntsville, Alabama, is due to be completed by 2031. Compared to its predecessors, the SM-3 Block IIA has larger rocket engines and an improved kinetic warhead. Manufacturer Raytheon promises a greater range of effectiveness against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
‘The SM-3 Block IIA is a testament to the continued partnership with Japanese industry to expand ballistic missile defence capabilities for the defence of our nation and our allies around the world,’ said Barbara Borgonovi, President of Naval Power at Raytheon. This milestone demonstrates that the team has matured the missile design, Borgonovi added.
