Raytheon has received a major US Navy contract valued at up to $24.4 billion for the production of Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors. The five-year agreement includes options for two additional years and follows a February agreement between RTX and the US Department of Defense aimed at increasing annual SM-6 production to more than 500 missiles. Raytheon describes the SM-6 as a versatile, combat-proven weapon capable of performing three major missions: ballistic missile defense, anti-air warfare, and anti-surface warfare. The missile is approximately 21.6 feet long, has a wingspan of 3.6 feet and weighs about 3,300 pounds. It can reach speeds of approximately Mach 3.5, equivalent to around 2,664 mph or 4,288 km/h, and has a reported range of up to 230 miles, or 370 km. The SM-6 can be launched from several US Navy platforms, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. Beyond naval applications, the missile has also been integrated with the US Army’s Typhon Mid-Range Capability system. It can additionally be carried and launched from the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The large production agreement is expected to support continued expansion of US missile-defense and long-range strike capabilities while ensuring the Navy maintains adequate interceptor stocks for multiple mission requirements.
