The American missile giant RTX (Raytheon) is investing heavily in accelerating the production of SM-3 missiles.

Defense News reported on this.

The increase in production rates is directly related to the actions of US forces in the Red Sea, where short- and medium-range ballistic missiles launched by the Yemeni Houthis at Israel are intercepted.

Today, the company produces both SM-3 Block IB missiles and the newer US-Japanese SM-3 Block IIA version.

Despite the production of both variants, the US Navy is seeking to partially abandon the purchase of the cheaper and field-proven SM-3 Block IB missile worth $10 million and focus on purchasing the SM-3 Block IIA worth $22 million.

According to a published US Department of Defense funding document, RTX (Raytheon) is currently able to partially meet the US Navy’s SM-3 Block IIA missile needs by producing at least 12 units per year.

To date, the company has invested over $115 million to provide a nearly 67% capacity increase for the final integration of all of its Standard Missile missiles at the expanded plant under construction in Huntsville, Alabama.

“The company is achieving a record year of SM-3 IB deliveries. SM-3 IIA is just approaching full production. We received the contract last fall. The SM-3 IB is producing at full capacity, running, and has an active assembly line, and we want to keep it that way,” Misty Holmes, Raytheon’s vice president of naval ship missiles, told Defense News.

In addition to the United States, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces use this type of missile, which uses both Block IB and Block IIA versions on eight missile destroyers.

RTX notes that increasing the production rate for the US and foreign customers will allow the company to reduce the cost per missile and ensure greater mass production amid additional purchases.

Militarnyi previously reported that South Korea will strengthen its own naval air defense component with American SM-3 missiles.

According to the procurement agency, the estimated cost will be 583 million US dollars. The missiles will be part of the weapon system of the KDX-3 project missile destroyers, the total number of which will be increased to six.