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Raytheon to Raise SM-6 Output Above 500 Missiles a Year

Raytheon to Raise SM-6 Output Above 500 Missiles a Year
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Raytheon aims to lift annual SM-6 output above 500 missiles, and on 1 October 2026 the US Navy awarded it a multiyear contract worth up to $24.4 billion for that purpose. Two caveats matter: 500 is a production goal, and $24.4 billion is a ceiling. The award does not disclose quantities or a delivery schedule.

Last updated: 29 October 2026

What was announced

The contract RTX announced on 1 October has a five-year base period plus two option years. Baird Maritime and ExecutiveGov report that quantities were not specified. Army Recognition stresses that the $24.4 billion is a maximum value dependent on future appropriations, not obligated money.

It follows five framework agreements RTX signed with the US Department of War on 4 February 2026, covering Tomahawk, AMRAAM, SM-3 Block IB, SM-3 Block IIA and SM-6. They run up to seven years. For SM-6 the target is more than 500 missiles a year, built at Raytheon sites in Tucson (Arizona), Huntsville (Alabama) and Andover (Massachusetts). The company says many of these munitions will see output rise two to four times.

Raytheon president Phil Jasper said SM-6’s multi-mission role is vital to the customer and that the company is focused on meeting demand. Raytheon cites workforce growth, supplier partnerships and automation, but gives no figures.

Why 2030 matters

The timeline for the 500-a-year goal points to around 2030. According to Army Recognition, an earlier Navy request for information asked industry about reaching up to 500 SM-6 all-up rounds a year by 2030. The same outlet reports that on 24 September 2026 the Navy gave Raytheon a $160.9 million transition-to-production contract for the Block IAU configuration, with refreshed electronics; first Block IAU deliveries are planned for fiscal 2030. Separately, Naval Technology reports a $335 million contract modification with deliveries to be completed by 30 May 2030.

The current production rate has not been officially published. Army Recognition derives a baseline of roughly 125 missiles a year from a 2019 authorization; that is the outlet’s calculation, not a company figure. It also says the FY2027 plan requests 540 SM-6 for $4.3 billion. That is a budget line, not a unit price.

What the SM-6 is

The Standard Missile-6 (RIM-174), built by Raytheon, is a ship-launched multi-role missile. Raytheon calls it “three missiles in one”: air defence, anti-surface warfare and terminal-phase ballistic missile defence. The company says it has been fired from US Navy ship platforms and land launchers.

  • Size and speed: about 6.6 m long, 1,497 kg, maximum Mach 3.5 (Defense Post, Army Recognition).
  • Range: no official figure appears in these sources. Open-source estimates run from 240 to 460 km, which Army Recognition treats as condition-dependent.
  • Platforms: US ships with Mk 41 vertical launchers, US Army Typhon batteries and the air-launched AIM-174B variant (Army Recognition).
  • Use: Baird Maritime writes that US surface ships fired 80 SM-6 between October 2023 and January 2025 against Houthi attacks on shipping.

Who operates it

The US Navy is the main user. The State Department and DSCA have also approved possible sales: up to 150 SM-6 Block I for Japan in January 2025 at an estimated $900 million, and up to 32 missiles for roughly $450 million in October 2022. For Australia, a 2021 notice covered services tied to a future SM-6 Block I purchase. These are maximum potential package values. Orders, deliveries and active inventory are separate things, and the notices do not tell us how many missiles have been delivered.

Why output is the real question

Because the SM-6 can answer air, surface and ballistic missile threats, demand for it is high. The plan to multiply output is meant to meet that demand. But the 500 goal depends on trained labour, sub-suppliers and automation investment, and no delivery data yet shows it being reached.

For the wider family see our coverage of the roughly $70 billion RTX production deals, the SM-6 frigate sinking test at Atlantic Thunder 26 and our guide to the longest-range air defence systems.

Frequently asked questions

How many SM-6 missiles will be built each year?

Raytheon’s February 2026 framework target is more than 500 a year. It is planned capacity, not actual output or deliveries.

How many missiles does $24.4 billion buy?

Unknown. The contract does not state quantities and the sum is a ceiling, so dividing it to get a unit price would be wrong.

What is the SM-6’s range?

No official range has been published. Open-source estimates range from 240 to 460 km.

Sources

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