Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Author: Tianjiang Shuo
Source: Raytheon Official Website and public sources
Site: https://cislunarspace.cn
Company Overview
Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) is a subsidiary of RTX Group (formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation), and is one of the world's largest missile and missile defense system suppliers. RMD's products cover air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, ballistic missile defense systems, and precision-guided weapons. In January 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce added Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Raytheon Missile Systems to its export control list, prohibiting the export of dual-use items to these entities.
RTX Group also co-owns the Javelin Joint Venture with Lockheed Martin; the Javelin anti-tank missile is a signature U.S. military individual soldier anti-tank weapon.
Space and Cislunar-Related Business
Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
Raytheon Missiles & Defense is a core contractor for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) ballistic missile defense system:
- SM-3 Interceptor: The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is a sea-based mid-course interceptor produced by Raytheon (in partnership with Orbital ATK), deployed on U.S. Navy Aegis ships. The SM-3 Block IIA is capable of intercepting intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)-class targets, with operational coverage extending to medium Earth orbit (MEO) and part of cislunar space altitude.
- Aegis Combat System: Jointly developed with Lockheed Martin, the Aegis combat system integrated with SM-3 interceptors is the operational core of the U.S. sea-based ballistic missile defense.
- THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense: The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system produced by Raytheon can intercept tactical ballistic missiles with ranges under 200 km, with an intercept altitude reaching 150 km, covering part of the lower cislunar space region.
Missile Warning and Tracking
- AN/TPY-2 Active Phased Array Radar: An X-band active phased array radar produced by Raytheon, serving as the fire control radar for the THAAD system and Aegis system, also used in Forward-Based Mode (FBM) for missile warning and tracking.
- Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS): Participated in the STSS project, validating the ability of space-based infrared sensors to track missile trajectories.
Deep Space Situational Awareness
Raytheon's sensor technology can be extended to target detection and tracking in cislunar space:
- Infrared Sensors: Raytheon's infrared detector technology is widely used in missile warning satellites and commercial Earth observation satellites; its sensors can be adapted to detect and track high-temperature targets (such as rocket engine plumes) in cislunar space.
- High-Resolution Imaging: Raytheon's imaging technology is widely used in commercial satellites, possessing the potential for detailed observation of cislunar space targets.
Major Products and Technologies
| Product/Technology | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SM-3 Interceptor | Missile Interceptor | Sea-based mid-course intercept; SM-3 Block IIA can intercept ICBMs |
| THAAD Interceptor | Terminal Interceptor | Land-based mobile terminal high-altitude intercept |
| AN/TPY-2 Radar | Phased Array Radar | X-band fire control radar, supporting THAAD and BMD |
| Aegis Combat System | Combat System | Jointly developed with Lockheed Martin; core of sea-based BMD |
| Javelin Missile | Anti-Tank Missile | Jointly produced with Lockheed Martin (not cislunar-related) |
Connection to Cislunar Space Missions
Raytheon Missiles & Defense's connection to the cislunar space domain is primarily in the defense dimension:
- Mid-Course Intercept Capability Extension: The SM-3 Block IIA's intercept altitude has extended into MEO; operationally, it has the potential to intercept cislunar transfer orbit targets — an area of concern for the U.S. Army and Japan.
- Missile Warning Network: Raytheon's AN/TPY-2 and space-based infrared sensor networks are important sources of data for cislunar space situational awareness, providing early warning information on cislunar space ballistic missile launches for the Space Force.
- Space Domain Awareness: Raytheon's infrared sensor technology can be used to detect and track rocket engine plume characteristics in cislunar space, supporting space object cataloging.
Related Terms
- Space Traffic Management: /en/glossary/other/space-traffic-management/
- Nuclear Thermal Propulsion: /en/glossary/other/nuclear-thermal-propulsion/
References
- RTX Corporation Official Website: https://www.rtx.com
- Missile Defense Agency, "SM-3 Block IIA intercept test", 2024.
- China's Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 1, January 2, 2025.