The Alabama project forms part of broader RTX investment in Standard Missile production lines and manufacturing processes. Raytheon said the spending is allowing the company to increase capacity and deliver munitions to customers more quickly.
The Standard Missile family supports U.S. and allied missile-defense requirements, including protection against ballistic missile threats. The SM-3 Block IIA is designed to counter short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles across larger defended areas.
The SM-3 Block IIA uses a larger rocket motor and an enhanced kinetic warhead compared with its predecessors. Raytheon said the configuration allows the interceptor to engage threats faster and protect larger regions.
“SM-3 Block IIA is a cornerstone of regional defense, giving the U.S. and allied partners greater reach, accuracy and confidence against evolving threats,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. The interceptor was developed cooperatively by Raytheon and Japanese industry.
The production expansion comes as Raytheon has received a $745 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency for SM-3 Block IIA production and sustainment. Work under the award will be carried out at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Arizona, and Huntsville, Alabama.
“We’ve made sustained investments in our production lines and processes, which are allowing us to increase capacity and deliver these critical munitions to our customers more quickly,” Borgonovi said. The Alabama expansion is one of the investments supporting that increase in production capacity.
Raytheon is also hiring personnel to support the SM-3 Block IIA program. The company said opportunities are available for early-career workers, experienced professionals and veterans.
