SM-3 IIAs

The SM-3 Block IIA Program, managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), is a key line item (MD14) in the Department of Defense's procurement budget, focused on enhancing the nation's sea-based ballistic missile defense capabilities. The program's primary objective is to procure and support the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptors, which are designed to provide a mobile, forward-deployable defense against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. This capability is vital for protecting the United States, deployed forces, and allied nations, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific regions.

The SM-3 Block IIA missile represents a significant technological advancement over previous variants, such as the Block IB. Its goals include increasing velocity and range through a larger 21-inch diameter rocket motor propulsion stack, improving seeker sensitivity, and enhancing divert capability with an advanced Kinetic Warhead (KW). These improvements enable the missile to engage a broader set of threats and increase the probability of successful intercepts.

The program also aims to support both Aegis Ashore installations in Romania and Poland and Aegis-equipped naval vessels, thereby expanding the defended area and strengthening regional security architectures. Procurement under this line item covers not only the missiles themselves but also associated hardware and support systems. This includes canisters required for missile storage and launch, production engineering efforts to resolve manufacturing and integration issues, and investment in spares to ensure operational readiness over the missile's service life.

The budget justification highlights the need for production improvements, such as increasing monthly output of All-Up Rounds (AURs), which supports the Golden Dome for America initiative and addresses growing demand for missile defense assets. Several support activities are funded within the SM-3 Block IIA line item. These include Diminishing Manufacturing Sources Mitigation, which addresses risks associated with the loss of suppliers or raw materials due to evolving regulations or technological changes.

The program also funds Service Life Evaluation Programs to test and analyze the missile's safety and suitability for extended use, and Obsolescence Management to minimize readiness risks and ensure continuity in production and sustainment, especially as vendors discontinue components or materials. Additional objectives involve maintaining and upgrading test and evaluation infrastructure, such as Hardware-in-the-Loop/Computer-in-the-Loop (HIL/CIL) platforms, and establishing a Pressure Vessel Rotatable Pool to replace aging components during recertification.

Production engineering efforts are aimed at managing configuration, assessing manufacturing process changes, and supporting quality reviews prior to government acceptance. These activities collectively ensure that the SM-3 Block IIA missiles delivered to the fleet meet stringent performance and reliability standards. The procurement schedule for SM-3 Block IIA is structured to deliver missiles annually, with unit costs reflecting investments in production capacity and support infrastructure.

The program is executed through contracts with Raytheon in Tucson, AZ, under cost-plus-incentive-fee arrangements managed by the MDA's contracting office in Dahlgren, VA. The schedule also accounts for foreign military sales, which can affect delivery timelines and quantities for U.S. inventory.