Raytheon to gather long-lead components for missile interceptor

TUCSON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Long-lead items for production of 17 SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile interceptors are to be procured by Raytheon under a U.S. Missile Defense Agency award.

The contract from MDA is worth $87 million, and a follow-on contract for additional parts procurement is ecpected early next year, Raytheon said.

The Standard Missile-3 Block IIA is a defense against intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It is part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and was developed by the United States and Japan.

It is scheduled for deployment in 2018.

The SM-3 Block IIA has larger rocket motors than earlier variants and an enhanced kill vehicle for destroying threats earlier flight.

The interceptor is a hit-to-kill weapon.

"The SM-3 Block IIA can be used at sea or on land with no modification to the missile," said Amy Cohen, Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 program director. "The SM-3 is the only ballistic missile defense interceptor that can be deployed both ways, and that flexibility is a tremendous asset."

Raytheon said more 230 earlier variant SM-3s have been delivered to date. The SM-3 Block IB will be deployed at sea and ashore this year in Romania.