Raytheon SM-3 Sales Will Be Depend on Ships With Mk41 Launcher

Raytheon presented its prototype dual-band data link, designed to enable ships to use S-band and X-band radars to communicate with the SM-3 missile and guide it to its target, namely, an enemy medium-range ballistic missile in the exo-atmosphere. LONDON - Raytheon's hopes of selling its SM-3 missile to European navies are focused on 10 out of 24 warships equipped with the Smart-L or active phased array radar (APAR), said Wes Kremer, vice president for air and missile defense systems.

The distinguishing factor on the 10 warships - four Dutch, three German and three Danish frigates - is that they equipped with the Mk41 missile launcher, Kremer told journalists at the Defense & Security Equipment International show, which opened here Sept. 13.

The Mk41 launcher meant it would be easiest to deploy the Standard Missile onto those warships, Kremer said.

The U.S. company has used its own funds to develop the dual-band data link over 18 months and is now looking to sign up customers. A further six to eight months would be needed to complete the data link, consisting mainly of packaging work, Kremer said.

A first test-fire of an SM-3 Block IB weapon on Sept. 1 failed to hit its target in an attempted intercept in the Pacific Ocean.

Equipping European warships with the SM-3 would give those vessels the ability to intercept missiles in the upper tier in a layered NATO missile defense, while European companies would gain work share by modifying interfaces on the weapon systems, Kremer said.

Thales Netherlands, which makes the Smart L radar, stood to get a large amount of work in fitting the SM-3 on European warships, Kremer said.

Raytheon first laid out its plans to market the SM-3 into European fleets at the Paris Air Show in June.