Article Posted on : - May 05, 2015

Deployed at sea for the first time in 2014, the SM-3 Block IB is on track for land-based deployment in Romania this year in line with the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach.

TUCSON, ARIZONA (BNS): The US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) has awarded a contract worth around US$ 600 million to Raytheon for Standard Missile-3 Block IB systems.

The anti-missile systems are used by the US Navy to provide regional defence against short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

Under the contract, announced on 30th April by the Department of Defence, Raytheon will deliver an initial quantity of 44 Standard Missile-3 Block IB all-up rounds and provide the work required to produce and deliver the third stage rocket motor reliability growth and design enhancements.

The Government has expressed its intention to purchase additional missiles up to a total quantity of 52, the company said.

Deployed at sea for the first time in 2014, the SM-3 Block IB is on track for land-based deployment in Romania this year in line with the second phase of the Phased Adaptive Approach, the US's plan for a missile defence shield in Europe.