WASHINGTON — The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz., a $156 million sole-source contract to buy the materials it needs to build eight Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block 1B interceptors, according to a Jan. 9 announcement from the Pentagon.
MDA budget documents indicate that the agency plans to buy 52 SM-3 Block 1B missiles in 2014 and 72 in each of the following four years.
However, because the federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution that funds activities at 2013 levels, the award is for a limited number of missiles, said Heather Uberuaga, a Raytheon spokeswoman. Once a full budget for 2014 is approved, Raytheon expects the MDA to award the remainder of the contract.
In October, the MDA announced its intent to award Raytheon a sole-source contract worth as much as $3 billion for SM-3 Block 1B production. The news came shortly after a test that MDA officials described as the Block 1B’s fifth consecutive success.
Follow Mike on Twitter: @Gruss_SN