raytheon, The U.S. Navy awarded a $440 million contract to the Tucson-based Missile Systems division of Raytheon Co. to develop and produce the new Standard Missile-6 Extended Range Active Missile, company officials said Friday.
The SM-6 is being developed to meet the Navy's requirement for an extended range anti-air warfare missile.
“SM-6 not only ensures that the U.S. Navy anti-air warfare combatants will defeat evolving and asymmetric air threats throughout its service life, but its inherent capabilities also provide the basis for highly cost effective spirals to meet future mission requirements,” said Louise L. Francesconi, president of Raytheon Missile Systems, which will develop, design, test, produce and support the SM-6.
The initial, baseline SM-6 program provides missile capability against fixed and rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and land attack anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, both over sea and land.
SM-6 will employ Raytheon's Standard Missile-2 Block IV airframe and seeker and guidance technology from across the company's product lines.
Massachusetts-based Raytheon, with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, specializes in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft.
