Pentagon awards Raytheon long-term missile interceptor contract valued at up to $6.3 billion
The Pentagon announced a multiyear contract with Raytheon for Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors that could reach $6.3 billion. The five-year base agreement is worth $4.4 billion, with options adding nearly $2 billion over two more years. Officials said the deal is intended to stabilize production, reduce supplier bottlenecks, and replenish inventories for the Navy and combatant commands.
The Missile Defense Agency handled the award, which follows a February framework between the Defense Department and Raytheon. The company says the SM-3 Block IB can launch from ships or ground sites and strike short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the midcourse phase. The Pentagon has identified it among munitions needing faster scaling, though the announcement did not disclose missile quantities.
The deal adds to recent RTX subsidiary awards: a $24.4 billion Standard Missile-6 effort, a $22.9 billion Tomahawk production contract targeting 1,000 rounds annually, and an AMRAAM agreement worth up to nearly $20.7 billion. Raytheon's president said the contract supports inventory replenishment and helps address evolving threats faced by the Navy, MDA, and partners.
Count words? First para: The(1) Missile2 Defense3 Agency4 handled5 the6 award7, which8 follows9 a10 February11 framework12 between13 the14 Defense15 Department16 and17 Raytheon18. The19 company20 says21 the22 SM-3 23? Block24 IB25 can26 launch27 from28 ships29 or30 ground31 sites32 and33 strike34 short-35 to? Hmm hyphen counts maybe. intermediate-range36 ballistic37 missiles38 in39 the40 midcourse41 phase42. The43 Pentagon44 has45 identified46 it47 among48 munitions49 needing50 faster51 scaling52, though53 the54 announcement55 did56 not57 disclose58 missile59 quantities60. First 60.
Second: The1 deal2 adds3 to4 recent5 RTX6 subsidiary7 awards8: a9 $24.4 10? billion11 Standard12 Missile-6 13 effort14, a1
[paragraph] Need maybe no bullet. Good. Potential issue: "additional factual detail and background drawn ONLY from material above" We included "allied forces" but source says partners, not allied. Could be inferred? Better say "Navy and partners" or "Navy and combatant commands". Context can say "Navy and partners". But "allied forces" might be not in material. Use "Navy and partner forces" maybe source says partners. Fine. Expanded first: "The Missile Defense Agency was the contracting body" source says MDA was contracting agency. Good. "February framework between DoD and Raytheon" source says DoD and Raytheon inked framework. Good. "Raytheon says SM-3 Block IB can be launched from ships or land and intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles during midcourse flight." Source says fired from both ships and land to intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles during midcourse flight phase. Good. "Pentagon has named it a critical munition for faster scaling"