WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The advanced surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) has moved into full-rate production to provide the US Navy with more of the anti-ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft weapons, US defense contractor Raytheon said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Full-rate production allows us to significantly ramp up production and deliver to the US Navy the quantities it needs to further increase operational effectiveness," Standard Missile-6 senior program director Mike Campisi said in the statement.
The SM-6 is a supersonic surface-to-air missile deployed on cruisers and destroyers that defends against manned aircraft and drones, as well as land attacks and anti-ship cruise missiles. The SM-6 will also be used by the US Navy as part of the US anti-ballistic missile defense system, according to Raytheon.
Raytheon, one of the largest US defense contractors, has delivered more than 180 SM-6 to the US Navy to date.
