MDA extends SM-3 Block IIA work until December 2022
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in the US has extended until the end of 2022 a contract for Raytheon to provide long-lead materiel for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile and related support efforts.
The value of the SM-3 Block IIA contract is increased by $36.68 million to reach a cumulative total of $2.65 billion since the original award in July 2015, the DoD noted on 10 June.
Under this modification, Raytheon will upgrade, integrate, and test SM-3 Block IIA flight test round software; revise environmental qualification plans for compliance with updated qualification standards; facilitate a preliminary qualification event; support an accelerated flight test date; and initiate activities to begin the transition to production.
Raytheon co-developed SM-3 Block IIA with Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
In November 2020, the MDA revealed a successful interception test of an intercontinental ballistic missile target, using an SM-3 Block IIA interceptor.
More from Naval Warfare
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
-
Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought SSBNs to be equipped with OSI’s ECPINS
The contracts between OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and BAE Systems Submarines will encompass continued support for the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) and the future Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).