Raytheon SM-6 contract modification expands missile production
Raytheon Co. has received a $29.2 million SM-6 contract modification from the U.S. Navy to increase production capacity for the Standard Missile 6 All Up Round. The award supports procurement and development of supplier special tooling and special test equipment needed to scale output of the Navy’s multi mission interceptor.
The cost plus fixed fee completion modification applies to an existing contract and was awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. According to the U.S. Department of Defense contract announcement, the effort is designed to remove production bottlenecks and strengthen the industrial base supporting SM-6 manufacturing.
Work locations and schedule
Under the SM-6 contract modification, work will be carried out across three Raytheon facilities. Tucson, Arizona will account for 47 percent of the effort, followed by Middletown, Connecticut at 32 percent and Westminster, Maryland at 21 percent. The work is scheduled for completion by Sept. 30, 2028.
Funding for the modification includes $14.59 million in fiscal year 2025 Navy weapons procurement funds. These funds will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Importance of the SM-6 program
The SM-6 is a key element of U.S. Navy and allied missile defense and strike capabilities. The missile provides extended range air defense, ballistic missile defense terminal capability, and limited surface and land attack options. It is deployed on Aegis equipped surface combatants and is increasingly central to U.S. naval air and missile defense planning.
By investing in tooling and test equipment, the Navy aims to ensure stable and higher rate production of the SM-6 All Up Round. This approach aligns with broader Pentagon efforts to expand missile manufacturing capacity amid rising demand and sustained operational requirements.
Strengthening the naval missile industrial base
The Raytheon SM-6 contract modification reflects continued emphasis on long term production readiness rather than short term procurement alone. Naval Sea Systems Command has increasingly used such awards to address supply chain constraints and improve throughput for critical weapons systems.
As SM-6 demand grows across multiple mission areas, the latest funding signals sustained Navy commitment to maintaining reliable production capacity through the end of the decade.
