Raytheon has secured a $258.7-million agreement from the US Department of Defense to design and manufacture the new SM-2 Block IIICU surface-to-air missile. The contract, running through September 2031, includes $18.4 million from Canada under the foreign military sales framework. The initiative seeks to bolster air defense capabilities for both US and allied naval forces.
The Block IIICU introduces significant upgrades compared to legacy SM-2 models. Its most notable enhancement is the replacement of the traditional semi-active seeker with a dual-mode system that integrates both semi-active and active guidance. The missile will also adopt a guidance section and target-detection device developed for the SM-6 Block IAU, complemented by aerodynamic refinements such as a dorsal fin and thrust-vectoring assembly for improved maneuverability.
Designed with a range of approximately 145 kilometers, the SM-2 Block IIICU will equip key naval platforms, including Arleigh Burke-class and Zumwalt-class destroyers, Ticonderoga-class cruisers, and the new Constellation-class frigates. It will provide both localized and wide-area air defense, while also being integrated into the Navy’s advanced Naval Integrated Fire Control – Counter Air system for networked threat detection and interception.
Although SM-2 production was halted in 2017, it restarted in 2021 after renewed demand from the Pentagon’s foreign sales initiative. Early users will include the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. The Navy has already declared interim operational capability for the Block IIICU as of late 2022, with initial operational testing expected by 2027 before ramping up to full-rate production.
