American Raytheon received $24.4 billion contract from Pentagon for SM-6 surface-to-air missile production. This involves missiles capable not only of shooting down ballistic and hypersonic missiles like russian Iskander-M and Zircon but also engaging surface targets like ships.
According to RTX announcement, which includes Raytheon, this involves five-year contract with option for 2 more years. New agreement builds on framework arrangement for increasing various missile production volumes concluded in early 2026.
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Defense Express notes that thus U.S. continues step by step firmly confirming missile production scaling plans. This is important, as specifically full orders ensure achieving greater production volumes. Recently Raytheon received analogous contract for AIM-120.
Regarding SM-6, under agreement concluded in early February 2026, over 7 years Americans want to reach manufacturing 500 units annually. Currently annual figure is closer to 125 units, while stocks noticeably decreased due to iran war.
Moreover, missile itself can be very expensive, meaning price starts at $5-6 million and reaches $10-17 million depending on customer, specifics and agreement signing year. Also one will have to wait long for their purchase, as component manufacturing timelines can reach up to 36 months.
SM-6 is very important, serving as one of main air and missile defense assets for U.S. Navy ships. According to open sources it can intercept aerodynamic, ballistic and hypersonic targets at ranges over 240 km.
Also SM-6 functionality includes capability to engage land and surface targets at ranges up to 460 km, which was recently demonstrated at exercises. Moreover, these interceptors can be used not only from ship vertical launch systems but also from ground-based Typhon systems.
SM-6 also became basis for AIM-174B — long-range air-to-air missile for U.S. Navy carrier-based aviation. It can serve as certain transitional asset until mass fielding of AIM-424 Malice.
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