General Dynamics Mission Systems Unveils Advanced Optics and Framework for Next-Gen SM-3 Interceptor
General Dynamics Mission Systems has proclaimed today that it has been chosen by Raytheon Missiles and Defense to supply cutting-edge optical elements and structures for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB and SM-3 Block IIA interceptors through two firm-fixed price contracts totalizing $43 million. The anticipated conclusion date for the agreements is 2023.
The SM-3 IB Interceptor serves as a defensive mechanism employed by the U.S. Navy to eliminate short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Rather than utilizing a warhead to neutralize its objective, Raytheon Missiles & Defense’s interceptor employs sheer impact to strike threats with the force equivalent to a 10-ton truck moving at 600 mph. The SM-3 IIA multi-role interceptor addresses targets at elevated altitudes and recently neutralized an intercontinental ballistic missile target during a flight test demonstration.
To attain this extraordinarily high degree of precision, the SM-3 IB and IIA leverage seekers that operate as a navigation system. General Dynamics will furnish Raytheon with specialized optical elements and structures integral to the seeker, encompassing a compact telescope, which tracks the target and disseminates data for guidance and calculations, allowing the missile to maneuver with exceptional accuracy during engagement.
“These optical elements and structures are remarkably durable and lightweight; they weigh one-third as much as aluminum and are six times more rigid than steel, making them perfect for demanding environments such as space,” stated John Schulz, director of structures at General Dynamics Mission Systems. “For over five decades, we have been one of the few firms globally possessing the expertise and capabilities to design and fabricate these components and structures to meet the unparalleled tolerances necessitated by these sophisticated optical systems.”
General Dynamics has designed and crafted bespoke precision metal optical components for defense and space-oriented applications for more than 50 years. General Dynamics components have been integrated into some of the globe’s most advanced optical systems, including the James Webb telescope, Mars rover, and the F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System.
