Raytheon has secured a $19.3 million contract modification from the US Navy to extend its role as design agent and engineering support provider for the Rolling Airframe Missile program. The RAM system remains a key naval self-defense weapon, protecting US and allied ships against a range of airborne threats.
The contract runs through March 2028 and is funded through a mix of US Navy procurement accounts for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, alongside foreign military sales funding from partner nations including Japan, Qatar, South Korea, and Canada. Work under the agreement will be carried out primarily at Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona, facility.
The RAM is a short-range, fire-and-forget surface-to-air missile designed to counter anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft, and other close-in threats. In its Block 2 configuration, the missile combines passive radio frequency and infrared guidance to enable fast reaction times without requiring target illumination. The system is integrated across multiple vessel classes, from amphibious assault ships to guided-missile destroyers, using the MK49 launcher or the SeaRAM weapon system.
Recent years have seen continued investment in the RAM program, with Raytheon expanding launcher production and upgrade efforts for the US Navy. International interest also remains robust, underscored by new system deliveries, fleet integration milestones, and foreign military sales approvals supporting allied naval air defense modernization.
