Mary-Louise Hoffman
Raytheon has updated the kill vehicle software of its Standard Missile-3 system that is designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missile threats.
The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency are slated to test the company’s SM-3 Block IB weapon fitted with the new software this year, Raytheon said Wednesday.
“We’re proving it’s possible to significantly improve the SM-3 Block IB’s capability without having to go through the process of breaking apart the missile and then rebuilding again,” said Mitch Stevison, a Raytheon senior program director.
The company designed the interceptor with a two-color infrared seeker and a throttleable divert and attitude control technology that works to propel the weapon towards its target in space.
Raytheon performed the SM-3 software upgrade work at the company’s space factory in Tucson, Arizona.
