TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and its Japanese partner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have completed the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA guided missile Critical Design Review (CDR). The CDR verified that the missile's design will meet the stringent, specific operational performance requirements necessary to defeat the projected threats. The SM-3 Block IIA will defeat incoming ballistic missile threats by colliding with them in space, and the program is on track to begin flight testing in 2015.

In a precedent-setting co-development effort between allies, the U.S. and Japan have determined an equitable workshare agreement that defines by missile section the development responsibility between each country.

"This milestone is critical because it moves the SM-3 Block IIA program from design to build," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "Once deployed, SM-3 Block IIA will provide the U.S. and Japan capability to defend larger geographic areas from longer-range ballistic missile threats."

The SM-3 Block IIA program plan included building hardware early, supporting completion of critical subsystem testing prior to CDR. This "hardware rich" approach coupled with the design commonality with previous versions of SM-3 reduces integration risk.

"We worked closely with the Missile Defense Agency to ensure our design plan was well thought out, allowing us to build and test along the way. This method will go a long way toward lowering our risk during future flight testing," said Tim Lardy, Raytheon Missile Systems' SM-3 Block IIA program director.

Over the course of 18 months, the Raytheon-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries team, along with various subcontractors, successfully completed more than 80 rigorous subsystem reviews leading up to the final "system" CDR.

About the Standard Missile-3
SM-3s destroy incoming ballistic missile threats in space using nothing more than sheer impact of collision, which is equivalent to a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph. The SM-3 Block IIA is the third evolution of the SM-3 family of guided missiles and builds on the successful legacy of the first two variants: SM-3 Blocks IA and IB. 

• SM-3 Block IIA will have two distinct new features:
  • 21-inch 2nd and 3rd stage rocket motors;
  • A larger, more capable kinetic warhead.
• SM-3 Block IIA will be deployed at sea and on land.
• More than 155 SM-3s have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contact
Heather Uberuaga
+1.520.891.8421
rmspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company