The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $19.3-million contract modification to continue design agent and engineering support for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) program, a key ship self‑defense weapon used by the US and allied navies.
The award covers work through March 2028 and includes contributions from Japan, Qatar, South Korea, and Canada under the foreign military sales (FMS) framework.
Funding is drawn from a mix of fiscal 2025 and 2026 navy and FMS budgets, while work will be performed primarily in Tucson, Arizona.
The RAM is a lightweight, fire‑and‑forget surface‑to‑air missile designed to defend ships against anti‑ship cruise missiles, aircraft, and other close-in threats. It uses a combination of passive radio frequency and infrared guidance in its Block 2 configuration, allowing rapid reaction without external illumination.
It is deployed on a broad range of platforms from amphibious assault ships to destroyers via the MK49 Guided Missile Launching System or the SeaRAM close‑in weapon system.
Other Rolling Airframe Missile Developments
Raytheon and the US Navy have continued to invest in RAM production and capability upgrades in recent years.
In July 2025, Raytheon secured a roughly $74-million contract — the largest single order for RAM launching systems in more than two decades — to produce new launchers, refurbish existing systems, and supply upgrade hardware for the US fleet.
Growth in RAM inventory also showed progress when the US Navy accepted delivery in May 2025 of its 250th MK49 RAM Guided‑Missile Launching System for integration aboard vessels such as the USS Pittsburgh.
International demand has also remained strong. In 2024, the US State Department approved a possible sale to Japan for up to 212 RIM‑116 Block 2B Rolling Airframe Missiles and related support equipment valued at about $360 million.
