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Missile Defense: US Highlights Key Role of SM3 Interceptors After First Combat Use in Middle East.
The U.S. Department of Defense has officially announced a major modification to a contract awarded to Raytheon, now a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, concerning the sustainment of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors. This contract modification, valued at $2.134 billion, raises the total ceiling from $1.198 billion to $3.332 billion. The announcement comes in a strategically significant context, as the SM-3 was recently used for the first time in an operational combat scenario by the U.S. Navy during the interception of Iranian missiles targeting Israel.
The Standard Missile-3 is an exo-atmospheric interceptor designed to neutralize short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats through direct kinetic impact, without the use of an explosive warhead (Picture source: Raytheon)
The contract covers ongoing engineering and logistical support services for the various SM-3 variants, including the Block IA, Block IB, and Block IIA versions. It encompasses complex technical services such as configuration management, obsolescence mitigation, cybersecurity measures, service life evaluation, support for flight testing, industrial base assessments, and the provision of spare parts. It also includes specific activities related to the defense of Guam and support under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be carried out at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Arizona, and Huntsville, Alabama, under the supervision of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), also based in Huntsville. The performance period remains unchanged and extends through October 29, 2029.
The Standard Missile-3 is an exo-atmospheric interceptor designed to neutralize short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats through direct kinetic impact, without the use of an explosive warhead. Developed by Raytheon on behalf of the MDA, the system employs a "hit-to-kill" approach, which relies on direct collision to destroy targets. It is deployed from both sea-based Aegis-equipped ships and land-based Aegis Ashore sites in Europe. The SM-3 plays a central role in the ballistic missile defense architecture of the United States and its allies, particularly within NATO's Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA). With over 30 successful space intercepts and more than 400 missiles delivered to the U.S. and Japanese navies, the system has established a credible operational track record.
Among the operational variants, the SM-3 Block IB features a dual-color infrared seeker and a Throttleable Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS), enhancing terminal guidance accuracy. The Block IIA variant, developed in cooperation with Japan, represents a significant evolution. It incorporates a wider 21-inch diameter, more powerful rocket motors, a larger kinetic warhead, and an improved seeker coupled with a High Divert DACS. These enhancements provide extended range and speed, allowing the missile to defend larger areas against advanced ballistic threats. This version forms the core of EPAA Phase III, with deployment already underway in Romania and planned for Poland. It has demonstrated its effectiveness in NATO multinational exercises and in a successful live interception of a ballistic missile target in 2017.
The SM-3 Block IA, the earliest version deployed since 2004, features a 13.5-inch propulsion system, a monochrome seeker, and a Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS). It serves as the technological foundation of the program. The Block IB, operational since 2011, introduced important improvements while maintaining compatibility with the original design. The Block IIA represents a capability leap, not only in terms of range but also in strategic flexibility, as it can be launched from both naval and land-based platforms, enabling a wider range of operational scenarios.
The recent combat use of the SM-3 in intercepting ballistic threats launched from Iran has further reinforced its strategic relevance among U.S. allies. This event demonstrated the interceptor's technical maturity and its ability to counter high-altitude missile attacks in a complex environment. It also highlights the missile’s growing role in protecting strategic sites, deployed naval forces, and allied territories across Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.
By enabling Raytheon to continue and expand its technical support to U.S. and allied forces, this contract modification underscores the increasingly central position of the SM-3 in U.S. missile defense doctrine. In a global context marked by the proliferation of ballistic missile technologies and intensifying strategic rivalries, the SM-3 program remains a key tool for deterrence, international cooperation, and collective protection. This contract confirms Raytheon's pivotal role in sustaining Western exo-atmospheric interception capabilities.
Evolution of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors under the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program (Picture source: MDA)