How Raytheon is ramping production of the SM-6® missile
Raytheon is scaling up production of the SM-6 missile to meet U.S. Department of War contracts, aiming to deliver hundreds annually within years through a focused 90-day sprint and factory expansion.
Raytheon has launched a multiyear initiative to significantly increase production of the SM-6 missile, a versatile munition capable of launching from land, ships, and aircraft. The effort is part of broader contracts with the U.S. Department of War to accelerate munitions manufacturing. The company is strengthening its supply chain, evaluating production workflows, and enhancing supplier resilience to meet rising demand.
To test its capacity, the SM-6 team conducted a three-month production sprint with U.S. Navy support, focusing on assembling as many missiles as possible in a short timeframe. The sprint involved cross-functional teams from operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality, who assessed available hardware, supplier readiness, and factory capacity. Leadership emphasized incremental progress, with daily tracking of parts and production milestones.
The sprint required securing higher-than-normal part supplies, with full kits arriving to activate the assembly line. Quality assurance teams expanded staffing and extended shifts, including weekends, to maintain rigorous acceptance testing. Real-time visual management boards tracked progress, with color-coded statuses guiding daily priorities and problem resolution.
Raytheon completed a $115 million, 26,000-square-foot expansion in Huntsville, Alabama, boosting production capacity by over 50% and supporting more than 2,200 employees. The factory met its initial production target in the first month and exceeded it in the second, with teams celebrating each completed missile by ringing a bell. The effort aligns with plans to scale annual production through 2030.