TUCSON, Ariz., March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) $350 million to increase its procurement of Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles from 8 to 44.

The SM-3 is designed to destroy incoming short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats by colliding with them in space, a concept sometimes described as "hitting a bullet with a bullet."

The work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala., through September 2016.

Standard Missile-3 2013 Year-in-Review

Feb. SM-3 Block IA destroys medium-range ballistic missile target using remote satellite cue
March Raytheon's dual-band datalink tested with Thales radar
May SM-3 Block IB destroys complex, separating short-range ballistic missile target
June Raytheon delivers first SM-3 from its new Alabama missile integration facility
Sept SM-3 Block IA destroys medium-range ballistic missile target during operational test
Sept US Navy launches two SM-3 Block IBs against single ballistic missile target; target destroyed
Oct. SM-3 Block IB destroys medium range ballistic missile target; completes initial operational testing
Oct. SM-3 Block IIA completes critical design review; program moves from design to build

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 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 cyber security and 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 Contacts
Heather Uberuaga
+1.520.891.8421
rmspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company