Military and Strategic Journal
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Founded in August 1971

2020-05-03

Raytheon and U.S. Missile Defense Agency Sign US$2B SM-3 Contract

Raytheon Company has announced that it will produce and deliver SM-3 Block IB interceptors under a US$2.1 billion, multi-year U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract. It is the first multi-year contract for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) programme and covers fiscal years 2019–2023. The SM-3 Block IB interceptor has a two-colour infrared seeker and upgraded steering and propulsion capability that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to direct the missile toward incoming targets.
 
The SM-3 is the only ballistic missile interceptor that can be launched on land and at sea. It is deployed worldwide and has reportedly achieved more than 30 exoatmospheric intercepts against ballistic missile targets.
 
It is an exoatmospheric missile defence interceptor used for theatre ballistic missile defence. Part of the Aegis Weapon System, it uses a hit-to-kill kinetic kill vehicle to intercept ballistic missiles during the midcourse of their flight path. The first Aegis BMD ships fielded SM-3 Block I interceptors in 2005, and the first Block IA interceptors were deployed in 2006. The U.S. Navy also currently deploys a subsequent SM-3 variant and is currently testing the Block IIA for future deployment. The Pentagon cancelled plans for an additional Block IIB version in 2013. All of the current SM-3 variants fire from Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) cells on both Aegis-equipped ships and Aegis Ashore sites.
 
Raytheon Technologies continually evolves its radar systems and Standard Missile interceptors, which include the SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6, each designed for a specific part of a layered defence strategy.
 
The SM-2 chases threats closer to the water’s surface, defending against anti-ship missiles and aircraft out to 90 nautical miles. Raytheon Technologies restarted the production line in 2017, when four allies – The Netherlands, South Korea, Australia and Japan – pooled resources to make a “bundle” purchase. The storied missile resumed production, this time in a modernised, reconfigured factory.
 
The company plans to flight-test the Block IIIB variant from the restarted line in 2020. The Navy intends to use that version through 2035.
 
Sheer Force
The SM-3 interceptor is a defensive weapon the U.S. Navy uses to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The interceptor uses sheer force, rather than an explosive warhead, to destroy its target. Its “kill vehicle” hits threats with the force of a 10-tonne truck traveling 600 mph. This technique, referred to as “hit-to-kill,” has been likened to intercepting a bullet with another bullet.
 
The SM-3 interceptor is a critical piece of the Phased Adaptive Approach for missile defence in Europe. The interceptor is being carried by U.S. Navy ships deployed off Europe’s coast and is now operational at a land-based site in Romania, further enhancing Europe’s protection. The SM-3 interceptor can launch from land and at sea.
 
The flexibility of the SM-3 interceptor to be both land- and sea-based offers countries that do not have ballistic missile defence-enabled navies to take advantage of the capacity to protect large areas of land. This is often referred to as regional defence. The SM-3 missile can cover larger areas with fewer installations, when compared to other “lower tier” missile defence solutions.
 
The programme has over 30 successful space intercepts, and more than 400 interceptors have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies. 
 
Next-gen Variant
Raytheon Technologies and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are partnering to make a next-generation IIA variant that’s equipped with a new rocket motor, doubling the range of earlier interceptors. It has two distinct new features: larger rocket motors that will allow it to defend broader areas from ballistic missile threats and a kill vehicle. The new variant has a larger “kill vehicle” instead of a warhead. It uses sheer impact to knock out an attacking missile.
 
The interceptor’s kinetic warhead has been enhanced, improving the search, discrimination, acquisition and tracking functions, to address advanced and emerging threats.
The SM-3 IIA missile intercepted an advanced ballistic missile threat in its first live target test in early 2017. The intercept was preceded by two successful non-target flight tests. The system participated in an international, NATO-led exercise in 2019 that simulated real-life threat scenarios. Strong cooperation between allied nations and industry helps ensure readiness to defeat complex threats around the world.
 
The Block IIA variant is the centrepiece of the European missile defence system. It will be deployed ashore in Poland to complete Phase 3 of the European Phased Adaptive Approach. When the next land-based SM-3 interceptor site becomes operational in Poland, all of Europe will reportedly be defended from ballistic missile attacks.
In late 2019, Raytheon Technologies won a US$1 billion U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract to produce 62 Block IIA interceptors. The agreement funded production for 2018 and 2019.
 
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