Raytheon Delivers Deployment STANDARD Missile-3 Rounds to Missile Defense Agency
(Source: Raytheon Co.; issued October 22, 2004)
TUCSON, Ariz. --- Raytheon Company has begun delivering STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) initial deployment rounds to the Missile Defense Agency. The event was marked by a ceremony at the company's Missile Systems operations here today.
SM-3 is a key element of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and builds on the existing fleet of Aegis cruisers and destroyers.
"This is a critical milestone for Raytheon and for our country. These deployment rounds move the U.S. Navy one step closer to providing the nation and our allies with a sea-based defense against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats," said Louise Francesconi, Raytheon Missile Systems president.
"The delivery of SM-3 is the result of the commitment and dedication of employees from Raytheon and the entire supplier team. And it supports the administration's commitment to provide a sea-based missile defense capability," said Edward Miyashiro, Raytheon's vice president for Naval Weapons Systems.
"Aegis BMD went to sea on Sept. 30, able to track an ICBM and to communicate that information to the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Today we mark the fact that we will soon add firepower to Aegis BMD with the SM-3 missile. It will then be able to participate in the defense of not only the U.S., but of our allies, friends and deployed troops against short-medium range ballistic missiles around the globe," said Rear Adm. Kathleen Paige, program director Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.
"Because naval forces are inherently mobile and capable of multiple missions, Aegis BMD will provide a broad array of options to operational commanders responding to a wide variety of dynamic world situations. I am very proud to the accomplishments of the Aegis BMD government and industry team, and confident that they will continue to deliver in the future," she said.
Since January 2002, the Aegis BMD system has successfully intercepted targets in space four times with SM-3. In all the flight tests, the SM-3 was launched from a U.S. Navy cruiser under increasingly realistic, operational conditions.
There is already international interest in Aegis BMD and SM-3. Japan made the decision earlier this year to procure Aegis BMD and SM-3 missiles for its four Kongo class Aegis destroyers. "Japan's recent decision to procure SM-3 further validates the performance and utility of this truly global missile defense capability," Miyashiro said.
Raytheon is also responsible for the manufacture and deployment of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program and is the interceptor lead for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor program. Raytheon is also providing the Sea-Based X-band radar and Upgraded Early Warning Radar for the GMD segment, the Space Tracking and Surveillance System payload, the Ballistic Missile Defense System radar, and THAAD (Theater High Altitude Area Defense) radar and battle management software.
Raytheon is leading the SM-3 integrated team effort, supported by Aerojet, the Boeing Company and Alliant Techsystems, which are providing major subsystems.
Raytheon Company, with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide.
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