Article Posted on : - Dec 13, 2011

The SM-3 interceptors have been designed to be launched from warships to destroy intermediate ballistic missiles. A Raytheon photo

TUCSON (BNS): Raytheon has received a $241 million contract modification from the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) for continued engineering design and development work on the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA variant.

The US is developing the advanced version of the Standard Missile-3 system along with Japan.

The SM-3 Block IIA will feature larger rocket motors and advanced kinetic warhead to provide a greater area of defence.

The next-generation missile defence system is on track for deployment in 2018, according to Raytheon.

The Standard Missile (SM) is being developed as part of the MDA's sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence System. The missiles are deployed on Aegis cruisers and destroyers to defend against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats in the midcourse phase of flight.

Raytheon has delivered more than 130 SM-3s to US and Japanese navies ahead of schedule and under cost, the company said.