Raytheon eyes revolutionary new testing for SM-3 missile circuit cards

Missile experts at Raytheon Co. will carry out revolutionary new test and measurement procedures for circuit cards of the U.S. Navy Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) under terms of an $18.2 million contract modification. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is asking Raytheon Missile Systems to develop testing for circuit card assemblies and circuit card stacks using the Presidio Gen 2 Block IV/V automated test architecture for the SM-3 Block IIA missile. The Presidio Gen 2 Block IV/V automated test architecture represents a breakthrough in testing automation for production of Raytheon's SM-3 missile. It replaces 17 test positions and 27 environmental conditioning systems with one automated installation. SM-3 missiles are part of the armament for Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. These missiles can acquire, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles.